--- title: "Buddy" year: 2026 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/buddy" fi1m_id: "buddy" imdb_id: "tt37281055" tmdb_id: 1514026 wikidata_id: "Q137356269" fi1m_score: 67 critics_score: 61 critics_reviews: 10 published: "2026-09-14" updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:23.544089+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Buddy (2026) Directed by Casper Kelly · 1h 35m · MPA R · Horror, Comedy ## Identity Buddy - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/buddy - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** buddy - **IMDb ID:** tt37281055 - **TMDB ID:** 1514026 - **Wikidata ID:** Q137356269 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37281055/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1514026, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q137356269 **Fi1m score: 67** · Critics 61 from 10 reviews *In a sentence:* The murderous unicorn has kept his teaching voice, which feels like an additional offence > Casper Kelly’s murderous-unicorn comedy has an affection for children’s television that makes its ugliness amusing. The setting and voice work deserve a tighter film, but there is enough invention here for the curious. ## Synopsis Buddy the Unicorn is the friendly face of a children’s television world, and a mascot with homicidal tendencies. The setting recalls 1990s children’s programmes, with their familiar cheerfulness interrupted by violence and adult humour. Keegan-Michael Key voices Buddy, with Sergey Zhuravsky performing inside the suit. Cristin Milioti plays Grace, Delaney Quinn plays Freddy and Topher Grace plays Ben, alongside a voice cast that includes Michael Shannon as Willie and Patton Oswalt as Strappy. Casper Kelly directs this horror comedy, sharing the writing credit with Jamie King. ## Review *Buddy* finds a fair amount of mischief in a children’s television mascot with murderous tendencies, though 95 minutes is more time than the joke needs. Director and co-writer Casper Kelly takes the reassuring habits of educational programming seriously enough to make their corruption unsettling. That care matters: a cuddly character behaving badly is a premise that could exhaust itself almost at once. This version has a convincing television world and some affection for the people caught in it, even when the writing starts to repeat itself. Production designer Anna Kathleen gives the film a persuasive approximation of low-rent 1990s children’s television, where cheerfulness seems to be part of the building regulations. The setting makes Buddy’s presence plausible before his behaviour becomes the problem. Zach Kuperstein’s cinematography helps preserve that recognisable television look, so the horror does not require the place to stop resembling children’s entertainment. We can see why the film spends so much time playing with this setting, long after we have understood the central joke. Keegan-Michael Key supplies Buddy’s voice, with Sergey Zhuravsky performing in the suit, and the voice is the strongest reason to stay. Key makes the mascot’s friendliness feel persistent enough to become unpleasant without sacrificing the comic appeal. We laughed at the mismatch between that reassuring manner and Buddy’s violence. The joke works because the performance remains recognisably suited to children’s television; Key gives us something more exact than an actor enjoying the chance to make a cuddly creature sound wicked. Cristin Milioti, as Grace, and Delaney Quinn, as Freddy, give the film enough emotional weight to keep the gore from becoming the only attraction. Kelly and fellow writer Jamie King show a welcome interest in the children rather than treating them as accessories to the mascot. That kindness is important to the comedy, since relentless contempt would make the whole business tiresome. The more earnest dramatic writing is less securely handled, asking for a change of feeling the surrounding absurdity does not always prepare us for. Josh Ethier’s editing handles the switches between comedy and horror more comfortably than the stretches in which the film needs to get somewhere. Individual collisions of the harmless and the nasty land, but their accumulation starts to feel repetitive. Michael Yezerski’s music helps carry the changes of tone without solving that larger problem. Once we have understood what sort of programme this is, another violation of its good manners needs to offer a better joke or a stronger scare, and too often it offers much the same one. As horror comedy, *Buddy* is better at sustaining an odd atmosphere than at building fear. Its references to children’s programmes give it plenty to play with, but recognition only accounts for some of the amusement. Kelly’s enthusiasm for this material is clear, and the film avoids the nastiest trap of such spoofs: assuming that anyone who loved the original entertainment was an idiot. We still wanted the script to be more selective about which jokes deserved another outing. There is enough here for viewers drawn to the idea of educational television turning bloodthirsty, particularly in Key’s performance and Kathleen’s sets. The uneven pace is a material weakness, even at this running time, and the occasional sweetness cannot disguise it. Approach it for the peculiar setting and the cast’s commitment, rather than a sustained fright. Choose company with a high tolerance for children’s television; the unicorn is only part of the test. *Fi1m score 67, published 14 September 2026.* ## What the critics say The reviews lean mildly positive on Buddy, with praise clustering around its recreation of cheerful children’s television and the nastiness beneath it. Critics repeatedly admire the retro production design, while Keegan-Michael Key’s voice performance draws particular approval. Several also find warmth beneath the gore: affection for the children gives the nostalgia more purpose than simply turning a familiar mascot murderous. The combination of absurd comedy and horror works for its supporters, though enthusiasm is far from uniform. The main divide is over how long the premise remains funny or frightening. The Guardian finds a single joke stretched beyond its usefulness, whereas Collider argues that the film finishes before that joke wears thin. Elsewhere, reservations centre on uneven pacing, scattered satire and dramatic material that jars with the silliness. Even some favourable reviews question its thematic depth. The spread is wide, with the same premise producing both delighted approval and outright boredom. ## Straight answers **Is Buddy worth watching?** *Buddy* is worth watching for anyone drawn to the idea of a children's television mascot turning murderous, and we scored it 67. Keegan-Michael Key's voice work and Anna Kathleen's low-rent 1990s sets are the reasons to stay. The central joke repeats itself over 95 minutes, so come for the setting and the cast rather than sustained fright. **How long is Buddy, and what is it rated?** *Buddy* runs 1h 35m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is a horror and comedy film. **Where can I watch Buddy in the US?** *Buddy* is not on any streaming or rental service in the US at the moment. Availability is checked daily. **How violent or frightening is Buddy, and is it suitable for children?** *Buddy* is a horror comedy for adults, not children, carrying an R certificate in the US and no UK certificate yet. It pairs the cheerful manners of children's programmes with gore and adult humour, and the mismatch is the point. It is more odd than frightening, but the squeamish should know the violence is frequent and the tone is knowingly ugly. **How does Buddy compare to Gremlins?** *Buddy* and [*Gremlins*](https://film.one/film/gremlins) both set cute creatures loose to behave appallingly, but Joe Dante's film is the better of the two. *Gremlins* keeps a firmer grip on how its comedy escalates, where *Buddy* tends to repeat the same collision of harmless and nasty. *Buddy* is kinder to its human characters; *Gremlins* is the one to choose for a properly sustained horror comedy. **What should I watch after Buddy?** After *Buddy*, try [*Gremlins*](https://film.one/film/gremlins) (1984, Fi1m 80): Cute creatures, ugly behaviour and a firmer grip on comic escalation. Then [*Delicatessen*](https://film.one/film/delicatessen) (1991, Fi1m 83): For another carefully built setting where everyday routines become gruesome comic business. ### Reviews we read (13) - **The AV Club**, Monica Castillo (B+): Casper Kelly twists kids’ shows into a deranged horror delight that takes a killer Barney premise to its unhinged conclusion. The film peppers references to shows from several generations while perverting nostalgia for squeamish punchlines and poignant notes about growing up. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/buddy-review) - **Los Angeles Times**, Robert Abele (70/100, inferred): The critic portrays the film as a curdled horror comedy that scrapes nostalgia from low-rent '90s kiddie programming, with strong retro design and a blend of dimensions and pop-culture references that keeps it weird and menacing to the end. A little of it goes a long way, much like the shows it spoofs. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-08-28/buddy-review-casper-kelly-too-many-cooks-delaney-quinn-caleb-williams) - **Slant Magazine** (70/100, inferred): The premise sounds like a Family Guy cutaway gag but the film saves itself from tired edginess by actually having a heart beneath the blood-caked fur. It genuinely likes the kids and wants viewers to like them too as they discover the joys of things not allowed in a TV-Y series. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/buddy-review-keegan-michael-key-casper-kelly/) - **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (60/100, inferred): The review calls it a late-arriving fairy-tale satire of Barney with exquisite satirical world-building and inspired touches, but one that feels scattershot, with mild chuckles rather than big laughs and a conceptual joke that doesn't always sustain feature length. It's ultimately a surrealist hate letter made with love. [Read](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/buddy-review-a-barney-spoof-sundance-1236639938/) - **Vulture** (60/100, inferred): Buddy is the latest effort to find the scary side of nostalgia by recreating then dismantling the familiar upbeat tone of children’s programming. While it offers pleasures in its pitch-perfect re-creations of kiddie entertainment aesthetics, it is ultimately a testament to less being more. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-buddy-tries-to-find-the-scary-side-of-nostalgia.html) - **The Guardian** (30/100, inferred): The film is a one-joke comedy horror that fails to deliver either laughs or scares and would have worked better as a short. The central gimmick of a murderous children's TV mascot quickly wears thin, with the story unable to sustain interest over feature length or build meaningful stakes. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jan/23/buddy-review-comedy-horror-sundance-festival) - **IndieWire**, Christian Zilko: Casper Kelly’s bloodthirsty riff on Barney is the first great midnight movie of 2026. The auteur makes full use of a worthy budget by playing his greatest hits on a multiplex-worthy scale. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/buddy-review-casper-kelly-sundance-1235174700/) - **Screen Daily**: The critic finds the film an enjoyable horror-comedy that satirizes cheerful children's TV shows with gore and snark, turning a beloved unicorn character homicidal. It praises Keegan-Michael Key's performance as the evil unicorn and the witty tension between the show's benign surface and sinister events. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/buddy-review-a-kids-tv-show-takes-a-deadly-turn-in-smart-fresh-horror-comedy/5212990.article) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney: The film offers a subversive twist on educational children’s television but is in need of sharper teeth overall. The standout is Keegan-Michael Key’s inspired voice work as the title character. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/buddy-review-keegan-michael-key-cristin-milioti-horror-1236483756/) - **Consequence** (B+): The critic highlights the immersive recreation of a children's TV world, the well-constructed puzzle-box narrative that builds to an emotional payoff, and excellent production values and voice cast. They note that it excels as entertaining shock-value satire but falls short of deeper thematic resonance. [Read](https://consequence.net/2026/08/buddy-review-casper-kelly-too-many-cooks/) - **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (7/10): The critic praises the film's effective shifts between tones in its absurd horror-comedy premise, strong performances especially from Cristin Milioti and Delaney Quinn that add emotional depth, and clever world-building. They note that it gets in and out before the central joke wears thin while still leaving the viewer wanting more. [Read](https://collider.com/buddy-movie-review-cristin-milioti-topher-grace-sundance/) - **HeyUGuys**, Nathan McVay (3/5): The critic finds the film hilarious, unique, and wildly unpredictable as a true Sundance original, praising its surreal '90s nostalgia and strong cast performances, especially Keegan-Michael Key as Buddy. However, it stumbles with uneven pacing and an abrupt dramatic subplot that clashes with the absurd tone. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/buddy-review/) - **The Wrap**, Chase Hutchinson (25/100, inferred): The review finds Casper Kelly’s feature debut a repetitive and baggy misfire that fails to expand successfully on the promise of his short “Too Many Cooks,” resulting in a boring stretch with little genuine inventiveness. It singles out the strong production design replicating children’s television aesthetics for praise while criticizing the juvenile jokes and lack of momentum after a promising start. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/buddy-review-cristin-milioti-horror-comedy/) ## Details - **Director:** Casper Kelly - **Director:** Casper Kelly - **Writer:** Casper Kelly, Jamie King - **Cinematography:** Zach Kuperstein - **Editor:** Josh Ethier - **Music:** Michael Yezerski - **Production design:** Anna Kathleen - **Costume design:** Shawna-Nova Foley - **Producer:** Tyler Davidson, J.D. Lifshitz, Raphael Margules - **Cast:** Cristin Milioti as Grace; Delaney Quinn as Freddy; Topher Grace as Ben; Keegan-Michael Key as Buddy the Unicorn (voice); Michael Shannon as Willie (voice); Patton Oswalt as Strappy (voice); Clint Howard as George; Eric Bauza as Mr. Mailbox / Worry Well / Couchy / Trashy / Pee Flower (voice) - **Runtime:** 1h 35m - **Certificate (MPA):** R - **Release (the US):** 28 August 2026 - **Genres:** Horror, Comedy - **Budget:** $3 million - **Box office:** $21 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc9MbCNYn3k ## Where to watch in the US Not streaming, renting or buying in the US at the last check. ## If you liked this - *Don't Hug Me I'm Scared* (2022): More educational television with something wrong beneath the lesson plan. - *Gremlins* (1984), Fi1m 80: Cute creatures, ugly behaviour and a firmer grip on comic escalation. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md) - *House* (1977): Another film happy to let bright colours and absurdity make horror stranger. - *Little Otik* (2000): A grotesque appetite disrupts domestic life in this patient, peculiar fairy tale. - *Delicatessen* (1991), Fi1m 83: For another carefully built setting where everyday routines become gruesome comic business. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/delicatessen.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/buddy