Keegan-Michael Key, Cristin Milioti in Horror Comedy

Casper Kelly, the director behind the viral 2014 Adult Swim short Too Many Cooks, returns with Buddy, a feature-length horror comedy that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival (Midnight). While Too Many Cooks cleverly deconstructed television tropes, Buddy attempts a similar feat, but falls short of its predecessor’s impact. The film, starring Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, and featuring the voice of Keegan-Michael Key, explores the dark side of relentlessly positive children’s entertainment.

A Nostalgic Nightmare

Buddy draws inspiration from the 1990s backlash against the saccharine world of Barney & Friends. The film posits a scenario where the seemingly innocent protagonist of a children’s television show, It’s Buddy, harbors a sinister, controlling nature. This orange unicorn, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, demands constant affection and instills fear in the children under his care.

Did You Know? Casper Kelly’s breakout short, Too Many Cooks, was an 11-minute parody of television theme songs that gained widespread attention in 2014.

A Descent into Darkness

The narrative follows a group of children who begin to suspect something is amiss in their seemingly perfect world after a classmate is violently attacked for refusing to participate in a dance party. As the body count rises, they seek help from Nurse Nancy, and begin to plan an escape. Simultaneously, the film shifts to the story of Grace, a mother plagued by unsettling feelings and a mysterious empty chair, and her husband Ben, who dismisses her concerns.

The two storylines eventually collide, echoing elements of films like Poltergeist and, more recently, I Saw the TV Glow. However, the film’s metafictional elements and attempts at horror-comedy don’t fully land, lacking the suspense and scares needed to be truly unsettling.

Expert Insight: The film’s exploration of the unsettling undercurrents beneath seemingly innocent children’s entertainment taps into a broader cultural anxiety about the messages conveyed to young audiences and the potential for manipulation.

A Mixed Bag of Talent

Buddy boasts a strong cast, including Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, Michael Shannon, Patton Oswalt, and Clint Howard. Patton Oswalt lends his voice to Freddy’s backpack, Strappy. While the performances are solid, the script’s ambitious developments and fuzzy logic hinder the film’s overall impact. The film runs for 1 hour and 35 minutes and was co-written by Casper Kelly and Jamie King.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Buddy about?

Buddy is a horror comedy about an orange unicorn who hosts a children’s television show, It’s Buddy, and secretly harbors a controlling and violent nature. The film explores the dark side of relentlessly positive children’s entertainment.

Who stars in Buddy?

The film stars Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key (voice), Michael Shannon, Patton Oswalt, Clint Howard, and Delaney Quinn.

Where did Buddy premiere?

Buddy premiered at the Sundance Film Festival (Midnight).

Will Buddy find an audience on streaming platforms remains to be seen, but its quirky premise and the voice work of Keegan-Michael Key could attract viewers seeking a unique and unsettling cinematic experience.