Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: GOOD BOY [SXSW Film 2025 - Austin, Texas]

While inherently a concept movie, "Good Boy" [Midnighter] works because it knows exactly what it is. Made independently, it is a feat especially in the emoting of the lead dog, Indy, who is the filmmaker's dog. The approach is one that can only be done now because, as was said in the Q&A and talking with some of those involved, the movie's sound is completely built on the back end. It is a lot of work but the end result is quite on the nose. One really never sees Indy's owner so it operates in more a Tom and Jerry perspective (in that you never see the owner's face). The point of view is the dog and in that way. it perfectly captures the essence of what it is looking to do. It is about what the dog is afraid of in a way but Indy here is so emotive, one wonders exactly how many takes it took to get the performance and yet not change the plot per se.

The darkness eNcompassing the house is fairly standard...the darkness in the corner...the doors closing. The house wants its new owner and yet Indy still wants to protect him even if the owner can't protect himself. Some of the tracking shots or even aspects of Indy's eyes from upside down are so intrinsic in their emotion that one wonders if the dog did not have some understanding. But as the filmmaker and his producer/wife said, Indy was not inherently trained and it took 400 days of shooting with almost no crew in New Jersey. But what was accomplished in that regard is quite momentous. If there is focus of vision...plus the technology is good enough now, making a film like this will look decent on a big screen. It simply comes down to telling the right story. "Good Boy" is not overtly scary (and this is a good thing) because it plays to the haunted house theme and is a movie that a big cross Section of people who will find connection to it, all because of its canine lead. B+

By Tim Wassberg