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Children's TV Icon Buddy Turns Killer in Sundance Horror
23 Jan
Summary
- Film reimagines a friendly children's TV character as a violent killer.
- The horror-comedy struggles to sustain its premise over 95 minutes.
- Sundance film fails to deliver genuine scares or effective humor.
The Sundance film festival features "Buddy," a comedy horror that offers a dark twist on children's television. The movie centers on Buddy, an orange unicorn with relentless enthusiasm, who quickly devolves into a sinister, murderous figure. Writer-director Casper Kelly attempts to establish Buddy as a new horror icon, but the film's central gimmick of a malevolent presence in a wholesome setting wears thin.
The 95-minute feature struggles to maintain audience interest, with many finding the premise unsustainable. The film follows children within the show as they realize Buddy is killing those around them, leading them to seek safety. Parallel to this, a confused parent played by Cristin Milioti insists on the existence of a daughter no one else acknowledges.
Despite a premise with potential for suspense, "Buddy" is criticized for its tame and uninventive kills. Even Buddy's transformation in the finale is described as underwhelming. The film's setting, a repetitive studio environment, further detracts from the stakes and characters' believability. Ultimately, "Buddy" is deemed not to be the breakout horror film Sundance audiences might anticipate.
