By MICHAEL GINGOLD
This unique approach to the haunting genre was a hit at the recent SXSW.
Shudder has announced that it has picked up U.S./Canada, UK/Ireland and Australia/New Zealand rights to GOOD BOY; release plans have yet to be revealed. The feature directorial debut of Ben Leonberg, written by Leonberg and Alex Cannon, it’s shot from the point of view of Indy, played by Leonberg’s family dog. The cast also includes genre stalwart Larry Fessenden and Stuart Rudin (Miggs in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS). The synopsis: “In GOOD BOY, our canine hero finds himself on a new adventure with his human owner–and best friend–Todd, leaving city life for a long-vacant family home in the country. From the start, two things are abundantly clear: Indy is wary of the creepy old house, and his affection for Todd is unwavering. Indy’s new world is immediately filled with unease: he senses invisible presences, follows phantom tracks, receives chilling warnings from a ghostly dog, and is haunted by glimpses of the previous resident’s gruesome demise. When a dark influence begins to grip Todd, Indy must fight a malevolence intent on pulling him into the afterlife.” (See our review here.)
According to the PR, “Leonberg and Kari Fischer, the film’s producer and Leonberg’s wife, adapted their country home into the creepy haunted house setting. Capturing Indy’s realistic ‘performance’ required constant invention and patience, with Leonberg and Fischer standing in as characters on screen. Production with Indy took over 400 days spanning three years.”
“We immediately recognized the immense potential of Leonberg’s debut and are thrilled to strike this deal with Shudder,” says Amy Beecroft of Verve Ventures, and Shudder’s Emily Gotto adds, “Ben Leonberg’s debut is a singular experience in perspective-driven horror. Told entirely through the eyes of Indy, a devoted dog whose terror and determination to save his human become our own, the film delivers a haunting and emotional experience that introduces a surprising standout performance from Indy and a strikingly assured first feature from Leonberg.” International sales for GOOD BOY are being handled by Altitude, which will launch it at this month’s Cannes Film Festival.
