Good Boy (2 Stars)

This is the first film in the Stuttgart Fantasy Film Festival.

The opening film of the festival is usually a film with a relatively large budget that's expected to make an impression at the box office in the following months. In that respect, this is an unusual opening film. It's the first film directed by Ben Leonberg, filmed entirely in his own home. The film's main star is Indy, Ben's dog. It was his intention to make a film about a haunted house, told from a dog's perspective.

Todd is a young man who's suffering from a severe disease. It's not clear what it is. He frequently has nose bleeds and collapses. He can't afford the costs of medical treatment. The film takes place in America, of course, where sick people are left to die. Todd goes to live in an old house that belonged to his recently deceased grandfather. His only companion is his faithful dog, Indy. That's the dog's name in the film as well. The dog sees monsters that Todd doesn't see and attempts to protect his owner.

The film divided the audience. Some loved it, some hated it. For me it's too unique for its own good. The dialogue is sparse. Dogs can't speak, and Todd's words are restricted to short sentences like "Get down", "Not now" and "Good Boy". I found the film boring, whatever my friends said.