Indy, the canine star from the film ‘Good Boy,’ has just secured the title of Best Horror Movie Performance at the esteemed Astra Film Awards. This heartwarming yet spine-tingling story is told through the eyes of Indy, who happens to be the beloved pet of the film's director, Ben Leonberg. It's a fascinating question: can a dog truly deliver one of the year's standout performances? The Astra Film Awards certainly think so, as they recognized Indy’s exceptional work.
The 9th Annual Astra Film Awards unfolded this past Friday night in Los Angeles, and in a surprising turn of events, Indy triumphed by taking home the award for "Best Performance in a Horror or Thriller"!
You might be curious about whom Indy outperformed to earn this accolade. Well, Indy bested a formidable lineup of human actors, including the likes of Ethan Hawke, Alison Brie, Sally Hawkins, and Sophie Thatcher.
Here’s the complete list for the 2026 Astra Film Awards category of Best Performance in a Horror or Thriller:
- Indy the Dog – Good Boy as himself – WINNER
- Alison Brie – Together as Millie Wilson
- Ethan Hawke – Black Phone 2 as The Grabber
- Sally Hawkins – Bring Her Back as Laura
- Sophie Thatcher – Companion as Iris
- Alfie Williams – 28 Years Later as Spike
According to Wikipedia, Indy’s nomination for Best Performance in a Horror or Thriller marked a groundbreaking moment in film history, as he became the first dog to be nominated for a major acting award that had previously honored only human performers. Winning the award further cemented his place in history as the first animal to claim such a prestigious honor. Although Indy was not present at the ceremony, his owner and director, Ben Leonberg, accepted the award via a heartfelt video message, with Indy proudly by his side.
In this acceptance speech, Ben candidly remarked that Indy is being acknowledged for a role in a movie that he doesn't even comprehend he was part of. He further elaborated to Bloody Disgusting, stating, "Many are surprised to discover that Indy knows only a few basic tricks and commands; his 'performance' wasn’t achieved through traditional training methods. Instead, it required positioning the camera perfectly, timing, and enticing him with a mix of everyday commands, unusual sounds, gestures, and treats. Through editing, we crafted what looks like a performance on screen."
Ben continued, "The scenes that are meant to be 'scary' were actually the most enjoyable for Indy and creatively fulfilling for me. What appears to be terrified barking or sheer fear on screen is really Indy fixated on a treat or tennis ball just out of frame, which he eagerly wanted (and received as soon as we yelled 'cut'). Thanks to the artistry of filmmaking and the clever arrangement of different shots, audiences project their own emotions onto Indy’s expressive eyes."
Good Boy is currently available on various VOD platforms and is also streaming on Shudder.
You can check out the full list of winners from the 9th Astra Film Awards on Wikipedia.
With over a decade of experience in the horror community, the author serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Bloody Disgusting. They proudly own a prop corpse from Eli Roth's Piranha 3D, have two marvelous cats, and still indulge in the joy of playing with toys.
