Director Ben Leonberg and his pup Indy stepped into the horror scene with their debut movie “Good Boy” on Oct 3. The film set a new standard for future horror movies displaying an entirely unique and immersive point-of-view storytelling style. If there is one film you should most definitely rush out to see this Halloween season, it’s this one. No matter if you’re a dog lover or horror fanatic, this film has just about something for everyone.
The cinematography beats any other horror film I’ve seen this year. Leonberg shares in a tell-all after credit scene that it took three years to shoot this movie. It sometimes took an entire day to shoot a single eight-second shot. Thus bringing practical effects to a whole new level, leaving AI out of the equation.
“As unusual as the production was at the end of the day this was just a really fun family project, and because we embraced the years-long filming style we were really able to find ways to ingrain Indy’s genuine personality into the story.” However, to prove that PETA did in fact approve of the furry stars’ time on set, Leonberg assures the audience that, “The horror, the dread, the feeling of fear, those are just tricks of film making. But when you see Indy and Todd together, the love is real because Indy is my dog.”
Indy never was actually scared, nor did he know he was in fact shooting a movie. Instead Leonberg used his knowledge of the Kuleshov Effect to create the illusion of fear. “On camera Indy appears to be an incredibly emotive actor, but the truth is that we didn’t have Indy do anything. As a retriever Indy just loves to have a job,” said Leonberg.
“The emotion the audience feels doesn’t come from Indy, it’s coming from the audience. One of the oldest cinematic tools is called the Kuleshov effect, essentially it allows filmmakers to create emotions in an otherwise neutral shot just by juxtaposition.” An interesting lesson to be explained to the crowd after the movie, sighs of shock and understanding filled the theater.
Other tricks I observed that helped in truly only giving the audience Indy’s point of view were the tracking shots. Most memorable were the ones that take place in the house as we follow Indy through your average spaces: bedrooms, an attic, the basement and offices. Capturing how a dog’s path may be a little different then a human’s. Ducking under clothing racks, sniffing before entering a new space and finding unconventional ways of breaking into rooms a human may entirely disregard. The sound of a dog sniffing is also a new audio that will invoke fear in me for a while. It became quite the tool to stir up questions from the audience, curious as to what the dog could possibly smell through the next creepy door.
Lastly, Leonberg made a strategic choice in never showing a human’s face unless they are already dead, in a photo or on a television, all places that would be naturally at Indy’s level. This worked for a few reasons. Firstly, it likely made Leonberg’s job as the actor behind Todd easier – allowing him to make faces or signal to Indy. Secondly, it added dramatically to the audience’s ability to see things strictly from Indy’s point of view, aiding Leonberg’s masterful use of the Kuleshov effect. It also got the audience better attuned to viewing the world through Indy’s senses.
All in all, this years-long passion project may have just become the best horror movie this season. Earning a solid 4.5 out 5 from me on the spooktacular spicy scale, the extra half a point coming from the incredible behind the scenes wrap at the end, where I feel Leonberg sums it up best…
“Just like the uncomplicated love between Todd and Indy, Good Boy was built on the core anxiety that I think every dog owner can relate to. Who hasn’t wondered why their dog is staring at nothing or barking into an empty corner? I hope that, when you get home, I hope you look at your dog a little differently.”