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Casper Kelly Reimagines Barney as a Deadly Unicorn
24 Jan
Summary
- Director Casper Kelly's new film 'Buddy' targets Barney the dinosaur.
- The film recontextualizes the children's character as a dangerous entity.
- Stars Keegan-Michael Key and Michael Shannon feature in the horror film.
Filmmaker Casper Kelly, celebrated for deconstructing pop culture tropes, has debuted "Buddy" at Sundance. The film takes on the iconic '90s character Barney the dinosaur, transforming the cheerful figure into a menacing unicorn that kills children who question their reality within a TV show.
Kelly, who previously created viral sensations like "Too Many Cooks" and "Adult Swim Yule Log," was initially hesitant due to similarities with other kids'-characters-gone-psycho films. However, the concept of characters being trapped within a television show resonated with him.
"Buddy" boasts a notable cast including Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Shannon, and Cristin Milioti. Despite its bizarre premise, the film is positioned to be a crowd-pleaser for those desiring unconventional entertainment, marking new territory for Kelly.
Financiers and producers aimed for a theatrical release, seeking to balance Kelly's distinctive weirdness with broader accessibility. Kelly learned significantly during production, particularly improving his scene blocking techniques with DP Zach Kuperstein, expressing excitement for future projects.
