A haunted house story told entirely from a dog's perspective, Good Boy is fast becoming one of 2025's most talked-about horror films. Following its festival buzz, UK audiences are now eager to know the release date, trailer details, and where they will be able to watch it.
Background on the Dog POV Horror
Good Boy marks the feature debut of writer-director Ben Leonberg, who co-wrote the script with Alex Cannon. The film stars Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, and genre veteran Larry Fessenden, but the true standout is Leonberg's own dog, Indy, who plays himself.
The story follows Todd, who moves into his late family's farmhouse with Indy after a bereavement. As the house begins to reveal dark secrets, it is Indy who first senses the presence of sinister forces that humans cannot detect. The film avoids anthropomorphic clichés, instead choosing to portray events through the dog's natural behaviour and instincts.
Good Boy had its world premiere at SXSW 2025, where it drew attention for its unusual concept and emotional impact. The festival even presented Indy with the inaugural Howl of Fame award, recognising his scene-stealing role.
Good Boy Horror Film UK Release Date Confirmed
UK horror fans will be able to catch Good Boy in cinemas on 10 October 2025, with distribution handled by Vertigo Releasing. The release comes a week after the U.S. launch, where IFC Films will handle its theatrical rollout from 3 October 2025.
The staggered release positions Good Boy as a key autumn horror title, arriving just in time for Halloween season in both markets. The short runtime of approximately 72 minutes has also been noted as part of its appeal, making it a compact but impactful horror experience.
Trailer Release and Online Buzz
The official trailer for Good Boy was unveiled by IFC Films, with an exclusive debut on People before being shared widely on YouTube and social media. The preview showcases Indy's perspective inside the farmhouse, with glimpses of shadowy apparitions and tense sequences where only the dog senses what lurks nearby.
Since its launch, the trailer has fuelled a wave of online discussion, particularly around the rare choice of a non-human perspective in a horror film. Early festival reviews have praised its originality, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a critics' score of around 95% following its SXSW run.
Where to Watch Good Boy in the UK
For UK audiences, Good Boy will first be available exclusively in cinemas. The film is expected to play at select theatres nationwide through Vertigo Releasing.
For those asking where to watch after the theatrical run, horror streaming platform Shudder has acquired rights for English-speaking territories, including the UK and Ireland. While a streaming premiere date has not yet been confirmed, Shudder is set to become the home for Good Boy once it completes its cinema window.
What Makes Good Boy Stand Out
Unlike many horror films involving animals, Good Boy has drawn attention for avoiding predictable outcomes. Reports from early screenings suggest that Indy's fate does not follow the usual pet-in-peril trope, offering reassurance for audiences wary of distressing content.
The film has also been compared with classic canine horror like Cujo, though critics note that its grounded, realistic approach to showing the world through a dog's eyes sets it apart as something new in the genre.
