Award-Winning Canine Star Indy: Viral Good Boy Shines in Horror Performance!

Good Boy made a significant impact last year by presenting a horror movie through the eyes of a dog. Directed by Ben Leonberg, the film features his own pet, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Indy, as the main character. Good Boy quickly became a sensation after its trailer release sparked concerns about the safety of Indy, which helped the film become one of the top earners on the Shudder streaming platform.

Indy was recently celebrated for his compelling role in the film. The dog actor received the Astra Film Award for Best Performance in a Horror or Thriller, a recognition typically given to human performers. In this category, Indy triumphed over well-known actors like Alison Brie, Sally Hawkins, Ethan Hawke, and Sophie Thatcher.

Shooting Indy’s scenes was a challenging task, according to Leonberg. He mentioned that Indy “can only work for a few hours each day, which meant the shooting schedule had to be extended much longer than usual.” He further explained, “We only shot for one to three hours a day, and it took us three years, spanning over 400 days to complete.” Leonberg also shared insights into the filmmaking process, stating, “While he is able to follow commands, a lot of his scenes required careful direction to keep the illusion alive.“

Leonberg elaborated on the cinematic techniques used to craft Indy’s performance: “It’s also about capturing what seems like a genuine performance, which actually involves both the dog and the audience’s perception, because the audience projects their own emotions onto him,” he said. “By using cinematic shot progression to show his perspective, we come back to a neutral shot of his face. In reality, he might look blank, but the audience feels, ‘That dog is scared,’ even though it’s actually them who are scared.“

Earlier this year, “Indy” also wrote a letter seeking Academy Award recognition, arguing that “the complex contributions of our canine actors should be acknowledged.” The letter highlighted that animal performers are “often overlooked in the annual awards, not recognized for their artistry, and remain undervalued by the Academy overall.“

While it remains uncertain if Indy’s request for recognition will be granted, his Astra Award and a special “Howl of Fame” Award at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival demonstrate the significant effort put into making Good Boy a notable film. Good Boy is available for streaming on Shudder and AMC+.