Buddy (2026)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

Part Barney, part comedy slasher, Buddy follows the titular orange creature and children' s show host as he strives to perfect the world in which his show exists. 

Is Buddy a slasher? Is it a comedy? Does it blend the genres into something interestingly campy? Buddy really is a testament to the sentiment that art is subjective. I’ve heard great things; I’ve heard horrible things. Maybe everyone is correct. 

At the top of Buddy, viewers are pulled directly into the fictional world that Buddy (Keegan-Michael Key / Sergey Zhuravsky) inhabits. The setting isn’t entirely different from those that we’ve all seen on Sesame Street and Barney, yet there’s certainly something that is eerily different about this production. There’s a level of discomfort that emanates from the screen and envelopes viewers from the opening moment. There’s no doubt that Writer-Director Casper Kelly and Co-Writer Jamie King strove to accomplish this—and they’re ultimately successful in regard to this venture. 

What Kelly and King try to accomplish that doesn’t work, however, is the addition of a secondary storyline. A third of the way into the film, Buddy shifts to a story that initially feels unrelated. That intended auxiliary narrative does eventually become intertwined with the primary plotline. However, there are aspects of that storyline that are never fully explained, and that ultimately never make sense to viewers. Characters disappear without an explanation; the audience is simply meant to accept this oversight. The lack of cohesion present in the overall structure of Buddy is concerning, as it ultimately fractures the flow of the film and causes the film to crumble in spots. 

In many ways, comedy and horror go hand in hand. The juxtaposition allows each aspect of a film to grow and become fully realized. While I’m not sure that Buddy achieves exemplary balance, it’s clear that Kelly and King are at least somewhat successful in blending genres in a way that makes them successful. There’s effectively a game of tennis being played between the two genres, and constant ricochet helps to develop a unique viewing experience. 

Buddy plays on the ideas of the puppet-centered shows of our youth—with an obvious twist. The moments in which viewers are immersed in Buddy’s world are adequate, blending both comedy and horror in a way that remains accessible. As the narrative shifts into something different, however, the film loses gusto and challenges its own validity. By no means is Buddy a failure, but some serious tweaks were necessary before releasing this monster to the public. 

Directed by Casper Kelly. 

Written by Casper Kelly & Jamie King. 

Starring Delaney Quinn, Caleb Williams, Bennie Taylor, Eric Bauza, Patton Oswalt, Sergey Zhuravsky, Keegan-Michael Key, Cristin Milioti, etc. 

6.5/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE