Good Boy
- Gus Keller
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
Despite a thin plot, Good Boy's high concept cultivates emotional insights. Showing instead of telling, it has minimal dialogue plus earned exposition. Told from an innocent viewpoint, the horror elements symbolize the difficulties of losing a loved one. Consequently, themes of loyalty, connection, and grief emerge. Its setup/payoff, as well as tension, accentuate the genuine heart. Though it's stretched and the characters are underdeveloped, the story's foundation remains sturdy. Meanwhile, the acting (primarily from a dog) provides sincere expressiveness and chemistry, creating rare levels of sympathy. Therefore, while Good Boy has flaws, it's too touching to resist.
Blending anxiety with bursts of surrealism, Good Boy exercises perspective. Lighting, depth, framing, and angles subjectify the imagery. Although repetition dampens momentum, its editing compensates with suspenseful flourishes inside a short runtime. Fittingly, the sound is diegetic as well as atmospheric. Well-timed, discordant music reinforces its mood. The limited production design suits the film’s sense of seclusion. Despite having no fame, its cast is centered around an irreplicable, real-life friendship. The effects have respectable dog training, but its CGI looks cheap at times. Overall, Good Boy's creative empathy makes it an endearing piece of independent filmmaking.
Writing: 7/10
Direction: 8/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Acting: 8/10
Editing: 6/10
Sound: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10
Production Design: 6/10
Casting: 7/10
Effects: 5/10
Overall Score: 6.9/10
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