‘Good Boy’ Delivers Dog’s-Eye Horror in UK Cinemas This October

Vertigo Releasing will unleash Good Boy in UK and Irish cinemas from 10 October, offering audiences a horror story told from an unlikely perspective: that of the family dog.

The supernatural thriller, directed by Ben Leonberg, has already generated considerable attention on the festival circuit, earning a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and picking up SXSW’s “Howl of Fame Award” for its canine star, Indy. Far from a gimmick, the film’s central conceit places viewers inside the world of a loyal pet forced to confront a malevolent presence threatening his owner.

The story follows Todd and his faithful companion as they move into a remote family home. What begins as a quiet domestic relocation soon spirals into something darker, as shadowy forces gather around the property. With his human companion under siege, Indy’s character must fight to protect the only bond he knows, drawing audiences into a tale where devotion collides with the supernatural.

Leonberg, whose previous shorts include The Fisherman’s Wife and Bears Discover Fire, co-wrote Good Boy with Alex Cannon and Arielle Friedman. The director’s background in high-concept shorts feeds into the feature’s ambition, while the film’s production was overseen by Kari Fischer, Leonberg’s frequent collaborator and co-owner of Indy the dog. The unusual production dynamic has already attracted attention, with industry outlets noting how the film’s emotional weight relies on the authenticity of its animal lead.

The cast includes long-time horror mainstay Larry Fessenden, known for Jakob’s Wife, Brooklyn 45 and a wealth of independent genre work, lending the film further credibility among genre audiences. His extensive history of supporting ambitious independent projects aligns with the film’s unconventional perspective.

Since its premiere, Good Boy has sparked notable online speculation, with a recent trailer release reportedly causing a dramatic surge in Google searches related to its ending. Much of the intrigue centres on whether the dog survives, highlighting the particular emotional pull that animal-centred horror can carry.

As the film approaches its theatrical rollout, Vertigo is positioning Good Boy as both a genre experiment and an emotional horror film anchored in loyalty and survival. For Leonberg, Fischer, and their four-legged collaborator, the October release will mark the culmination of a project that blends pet-owner devotion with supernatural dread.

Good Boy will open in UK and Irish cinemas on 10 October 2025.

Good Boy trailer