Review: Good Boy

Director: Tyler MacIntyre

Screenplay: Aaron Eisenberg and Will Eisenberg

Year: 2020

Blumhouse Television and Hulu have taken “Into the Dark”, a series of movies where each episode/movie is inspired on a festivity, very seriously and have managed to chain a good streak of great entries into the second season. “Pilgrim”, “A Nasty Piece of Work” and “Pooka Lives!” are some of the titles in this season that have given a lot to talk about for their good quality and entertainment. For Pet Appreciation Week, “Into the Dark” seeks to give a dark twist to emotional support pets. 

Maggie is a young reporter whose life suddenly has taken an unexpected turn for the worse. Close to turning 40 and without success in love, she feels like her possibilities to be a mother tumble, as well as some changes in her work that makes her lose her financial stability. Because of the elevated stress levels in which she is submerged, Maggie adopts Reuben, an emotional support dog that helps her get rid of her life stressors in a very particular way.

Once Reuben arrives in Maggie’s life it is established that this lovely dog has a few skills that are not normal for a dog. However, Reuben's arrivals coincide with a notable improvement in Maggie’s life that she had not achieved through meditation or yoga, which help that, along with his innocent looks, she ignores what Reuben (Chico) is capable of doing. Through her great acting, Judy Greer (“Jurassic World”; “Halloween”) is capable of with her physical expressions communicate all that is going on through Maggie’s mind, and this includes her suspicion and how she decides to ignore them.

“Good Boy” from director Tyler MacIntyre (“Patchwork”) and writers Aaron and Will Eisenberg (“3 Below: Tales of Arcadia”) focus on the development of Maggie’s characters, her insecurities, and how she starts overcoming them once Reuben arrives in her life and the relationship that develops between the two of them. This has nothing that can be tied up to a horror story, but it worth mentioning that Reuben takes very seriously his task of getting rid of Maggie’s stressors and he does it in such an aggressive and savage way that it contrasts with his passive appearance. A good deal of Reuben’s violent events take place off-screen, but we are treated with the detailed bloody aftermaths. 

Something that caught my eye was the Easter Eggs through the movie referencing previous “Into the Dark” episodes, such as one of Trezzure songs from the soundtrack of “My Valentine” and a dog plush toy in the shape of Pooka from “Pooka Lives!”. These details show how seriously Blumhouse Television and Hulu are taking this series, a message that resounds through the quality of “Good Boy”. Although this episode moves more towards the comedy, it shows some unexpected jump scares and plenty of blood, as well as a unique style and quality that adapts well to the Blumhouse style and what has been shown so far on “Into the Dark”. 

“Into the Dark” continues adding great episodes to their second season with firm pacing and has become a series to follow for horror fans in every festivity. Even Pet Appreciation Week has been given an episode and one that puts itself as one of the best of the season. Behind an innocent concept and a lovely pet, it offers a sinister and fun story topped off with a bloodbath.