Over the last few decades, horror filmmakers have had one obsession — twisting your childhood nostalgia into nightmares. Casper Kelly’s feature-length directorial debut, “Buddy,” continues that tradition while deliberately poking fun at the oversaturated genre’s cliches and absurdities.
Kelly, best known for the horror-comedy short “Too Many Cooks” and the “Fun Size” segment from last year’s “V/H/S Halloween,” returns with a murderous Barney-like unicorn from a 1990s children’s show.
The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, where I had the chance to attend a midnight screening. From the moment the project was announced, I was excited for what “Buddy” could bring.
The plot follows Freddy (Delaney Quinn) and her friends Derek (Bryson JonSteele) and Hannah (Madison Polan) who live in a kids’ television show, slowly realizing their orange unicorn friend Buddy (Keegan-Michael Key) is not as innocent as it appears.
As the violence escalates and blood spills, the friends embark on a perilous journey for a chance to escape into the real world.
The film is far from original. Plenty of projects like “The Banana Splits Movie” and the web series “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared,” which I’m sure Kelly took inspiration from, explored comparable interpretations.
Instead of reinventing the wheel, Kelly flanderizes horror tropes already ingrained in audiences minds to create a feverish, satirical nightmare. “Buddy” references childhood TV icons such as “Barney” and “Thomas The Tank Engine,” perverting and violently victimizing them for a laugh.
Audiences expecting a conventional jump scare flick may be disappointed.
“Buddy” prioritizes comedy over disturbing terror. It certainly came as a shock at first, but as the night went on, the auditorium filled with all-out laughter and I found myself profoundly amused.
Another aspect I love is the TV show aesthetic Kelly masterfully recreated in the first half of the film. Cartoonish props, puppetry and big colourful costumes, all enhanced by a VHS-style overlay and period-appropriate cinematography, convince the audience that they’re watching a show akin to “Sesame Street.”
“Buddy” loses momentum when it shifts to the conventional Hollywood style color palette and lighting, though. Kelly unnecessarily draws out several scenes involving Grace’s (Cristin Milioti) subplot and the kids’ journey. At times, the film’s chaotic energy gets to the point where you ask yourself, “What the hell am I watching?”
A notable example of ridiculousness involves the kids on a psychedelic trip from hallucinogenic flowers. Moments like these remind me of Ari Aster’s “Beau is Afraid,” which received similar criticism for its wacky, frantic elements.
Some subplots did not receive satisfying resolutions. Notably Grace, whose arc began sluggish and felt rushed in the end.
I can’t end this review without shouting out the young cast’s incredible performances, notably Delaney Quinn. Throughout the film, the audience resonates with these characters who overcome their fear.
For horror fans open to an unconventional and comedic slasher film, “Buddy” offers an unexpectedly entertaining experience.
Rating: 3.5/5
