Review: 'Good Boy' is a lean, economical supernatural thriller, anchored by a compelling central performance — by Indy, a dog.

America’s new horror-movie hero is charismatic and impossibly good looking, and the camera loves him. His name is Indy, and he’s a dog — and the best thing about director Ben Leonberg’s smartly experimental supernatural thriller “Good Boy.”

In the opening scene, we find Indy waiting patiently at the food of a couch, as his human, Todd (Shane Jensen), is having a medical crisis in a remote rural cabin. The moment is only interrupted by Todd’s sister, Vera (Arielle Friedman), entering the cabin, finding Todd bleeding and unresponsive, and calling 911. 

Leonberg keeps the camera at all times on Indy, who shows concern for his person — but also relief that another human is taking care of Todd in ways even a dog cannot.

After that intro, Leonberg shows us a montage of simulated home-movie footage that quickly summarizes Todd and Indy’s relationship, from Indy’s puppyhood and frisky adulthood, and the support Indy gave Todd as the human suffered a major health issue. After an apparent remission, Todd decides to take Indy and get away from the city, to move into his late grandpa’s secluded cabin. 

Vera, over the phone, reminds Todd that Grandpa (seen in home video footage, played by the cult movie icon Larry Fessenden) went insane in that cabin — and claimed there was something evil lurking about. 

Even before Todd settles into the cabin, Indy is feeling unease about the place. Noises can be heard from upstairs, things go bump in the night, and there seems to be something, or someone, in the dark spaces just out of view. 

Leonberg and co-writer Alex Cannon use all the classic horror-movie tricks, and demonstrates that when they’re done well, they can still scare the crap out of a viewer. Even Indy is scared, and it speaks volumes about Leonberg’s filmmaking talent and Indy’s screen presence that the dog can convey those emotions with an economy of movement and, of course, no dialogue. (If you’re wondering, Indy is a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever. 

One of Leonberg’s best tricks is that he keeps the camera at the level of Indy’s face, solidifying the focus on the dog and putting the humans — and whatever else is out there — on the periphery. The heightened tension from that simple camera move is electrifying.

The other smart play in “Good Boy” is its brevity, clocking in at a mere 73 minutes. Like any good dog, this movie does its business, cleans up and moves on.  

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‘Good Boy’

★★★1/2

Opens Friday, October 3 in theaters; will be available for streaming starting Oct. 24 on Shudder and AMC+. Rated PG-13 for terror, bloody images and strong languages. Running time: 73 minutes.