‘Buddy’ Review Roundup: Critics Praise Horror Comedy as Rotten Tomatoes Score Revealed

Horror has a knack for transforming childhood comforts into something sinister, whether it’s a killer doll or a haunted toy. One of the less explored areas of this concept is the cheerful realm of children’s television, where brightly colored, sing-along shows have been a staple for generations of kids.

This is the gap that director Casper Kelly, known for his dark comedic style in projects like ‘Too Many Cooks’ and ‘V/H/S/Halloween,’ aimed to fill with his latest film. After its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January and subsequent acquisition by Roadside Attractions and Saban Films, ‘Buddy’ has finally hit theaters nationwide this week.

Now that ‘Buddy’ is out, critics have shared their thoughts, and the response is overwhelmingly positive. The horror comedy boasts an impressive 87% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes from 86 reviews, along with an 83% audience score based on over 50 verified ratings.

‘Buddy’ follows a group of amnesiac children trapped in the episodic world of ‘It’s Buddy!,’ a fictional children’s show hosted by a bright orange humanoid unicorn voiced by Keegan-Michael Key. When one child refuses to play along, the cracks in Buddy’s seemingly perfect world begin to show, leading the kids on a perilous journey to a place called Diamond City, while a traumatized mother named Grace, portrayed by Cristin Milioti, gets drawn into the nightmare from the real world.

The film’s tone heavily leans into comparisons with ‘Barney & Friends,’ as Buddy’s cheerful, hug-loving persona turns violent when the narrative shifts. Critics have highlighted this juxtaposition as the film’s greatest strength, applauding its ability to convincingly recreate the aesthetic of authentic ’90s children’s programming before completely subverting it.

In an interview with ABC10 prior to the release, Kelly discussed collaborating with the film’s young cast, mentioning that star Delaney Quinn had always dreamed of being a final girl in a horror movie, despite being only 10 years old. He praised the young actors for their professionalism and intelligence throughout the production.

In addition to Key and Milioti, the film features a talented supporting cast, including Patton Oswalt voicing a talking backpack named Strappy, and Eric Bauza lending his voice to various anthropomorphic objects in Buddy’s clubhouse. Michael Shannon, Topher Grace, and Clint Howard also contribute to the ensemble, adding star power to a project that started as a Sundance curiosity.

Kelly has been open about the marketing strategy for the film, noting that the team opted for short teasers instead of full trailers to avoid revealing too much of the plot before its release. This tactic seems to be working, as reviews frequently commend the film’s unpredictability and the surprising twists that unfold once audiences experience it.

With its mix of practical effects, dark humor, and genuine nostalgia for a specific era of children’s entertainment, ‘Buddy’ has carved out a unique space among this year’s horror releases. Given its strong early reviews, it appears set to become one of the most talked-about horror comedies of the year.

Part of what sets the film apart is its dedication to its central concept, meticulously recreating the look and feel of authentic ’90s kids’ programming down to the smallest details before allowing the horror elements to take over. This commitment to a singular, absurd premise has become a hallmark of Kelly’s work, and ‘Buddy’ seems to be his most ambitious execution of this style yet.

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