Goddamn, that poster is incredible. Just ten times better than most big budget posters. It is artistic, simple yet original, and it conveys what the film is. But in case you can’t gather what this is about- it’s a ‘haunting’ type film and only the dog can see the malevolent entities. The film follows Indy, a dog, whose owner, Todd, is suffering from a chronic illness. Todd and Indy move to Todd’s grandfather’s rural home, a place that Todd’s sister insists is haunted. Oh and the film is from the dog’s perspective, complete with low shot perspectives and an exceptional performance by the star, Indy.
I will admit, this is a film I was certain I was going to like when I watched it, but man, I genuinely think it is good. It isn’t terrifying, but I think there’s some good scares and a lot of dread. It is a low-budget film ($70,000) and like a lot low-budget horror, it delivers a unique and creative work by utilizing what was available. Apparently it was mostly filmed in the house with just two people and their dog over a period of three years. Three years of trying to get specific shots of a completely untrained actor dog. Insane. But the end result really works and Indy is truly a star. I was constantly impressed at what they were able to capture of the dog and the things they did to convey emotions and the story without a voice or human face lol. Another thing I really liked about the film, that is also a choice to convey the dog’s perspective, is the unclear or quiet dialogue. It would have been annoying if the film just had a bunch of gibberish since the dog can’t understand language, so choosing to sometimes have the dialogue be muffled or almost unintelligible was effective while not being frustrating.
Truly the goodest boy
I’ll leave you with only a couple of warnings. The film is hella heavy. Todd is basically dying the entire film and lashing out. Obviously there was no animal abuse, but sometimes you feel sad for the poor dog. There are depictions of Indy getting hurt and a depiction of a dead dog- SPOILER- but Indy does not die! (insert Gonzo gif from Muppet Christmas Carol)