I like horror movies okay, but I need a good concept to draw me in. Good Boy certainly has one of those, but the concept that makes it compelling is also one that taps into my most deep seated fears, and I don’t know if I can handle it. As the name suggests, Good Boy is a spooky movie whose events are viewed from the perspective of a dog. Aren’t we as humans subjected to the horrors enough? Do we need to bring our canine companions into the pain and suffering?
Good Boy premiered at South by Southwest way back in March, and the reception to the supernatural horror movie has been really strong so far, with early reviews calling it one of the best in the genre this year. Though I don’t know where it all ends up, several reviews call out that it’s very emotional and heartbreaking—which could mean anything, really—so if you’re looking for a straightforward scare, be aware that Good Boy might have a bit more going on. The film stars Indy as a dog whose owner has suffered a death in the family and who moves into a haunted house. Ever the watchful companion, Indy notices that something is amiss and he and his owner are not alone. Now, he has to do what he can to save his owner from the dangers lurking in their new home.
Y’all, I’mma throw up. There’s a reason Does the Dog Die?, an entire website dedicated to asking if a dog you see in movie trailers is going to die, exists, and it’s for people like me who can’t handle that shit. There’s already a page for Good Boy on that website and I saw it as I was grabbing the link. I can barely handle seeing a dog be in distress under normal circumstances, much less supernatural ones. Whether Indy makes it out or not, he’s about to have a bad night. I guess I’ve got some time to figure out if I want to see Good Boy, as the movie is coming to theaters on October 3.