Buddy (dir. Casper Kelly)

By: Dave Hughes

Casper Kelly is easily one of the most eccentric filmmakers working in modern horror. After cutting his teeth at Adult Swim with iconic, surrealist projects like Too Many Cooks (2014) and Adult Swim Yule Log (2024), alongside writing credits on Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Harvey Birdman, Kelly has become a dominant force in the world of bizarre horror-comedy. He consistently manages to balance absurd humor with genuinely disturbing, nightmarish imagery. Buddy marks Kelly’s latest directorial effort, and while its ambitious plot occasionally gets convoluted, its vibrant cast and sheer madness ensure that Kelly remains a quirky but memorable voice in the genre.

Buddy centers on the dark legacy of a fictional 1990s children's television program. Heavily inspired by Barney & Friends, the show features the titular Buddy, a talking unicorn who surrounds himself with children while singing songs and teaching wholesome life lessons. Viewers quickly discover the creature's sinister nature when one of the child actors refuses to participate in the broadcast. From that moment forward, the narrative spirals into pure, unadulterated madness. What follows is a brutal slaughter, accompanied by bizarre, reality-bending twists as real-world victims are sucked into the television broadcast to fight for their lives.

In typical Casper Kelly fashion, the film will leave some moviegoers thoroughly baffled by its sheer oddity. The narrative twists and turns are startling, terrifying, and occasionally confounding as the audience uncovers the truth behind Buddy’s twisted origin. There are genuine flashes of inspired genius throughout the runtime, but they are frequently undercut by confusing narrative detours and underdeveloped subplots that could have achieved true greatness had they been given more room to breathe.

Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele, The Lego Movie) provides the voice for Buddy, delivering a phenomenal performance as a lovable yet deeply unhinged unicorn. His vocal delivery grows progressively more sinister and unglued as Buddy descends into absolute madness. Meanwhile, Cristin Milioti (The Penguin) stars as Grace, a grieving mother convinced that the television icon is directly linked to the disappearance of her missing child. Milioti is fantastic throughout, providing a layer of realism to a story that otherwise operates entirely outside the boundaries of normal reality.The child actors within the film also stand out, specifically Delaney Quinn(If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) giving credence to the story. 

Director Casper Kelly refuses to tone down the violence in Buddy, instead leaning fully into graphic extremity to complement the absurd madness unfolding on screen. It is a wildly entertaining ride in all its chaotic glory, serving as a fitting homage to Kelly’s previous catalog that his core fanbase will thoroughly appreciate. Despite occasional narrative detours, the film offers a uniquely disturbing deconstruction of 1990s children’s programming. Furthermore, the puppetry behind Buddy is surprisingly effective as well making the film all the more authentic. 

Target Score: 7/10 Fans of Casper Kelly’s previous work will undoubtedly enjoy Buddy, though the film also demonstrates room for Kelly to expand his scope as a feature director. Through top-notch grotesque violence and delightfully twisted storylines, horror fans will find plenty to appreciate here, ensuring they keep a close eye on Kelly's next bizarre directorial turn.