Buddy movie brings dark spin to children’s programming
Every once in a while AMC shows “Scream Unseen,” a horror mystery movie screening. This week’s surprise turned out to be Buddy, the widely anticipated horror about an anthropomorphic unicorn hosting a children’s television show in the 1990’s.
If you grow up in said generation, you’re no stranger to shows like “Barney” and “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.” This film is a direct dark satire of such programming, with references resembling that of Barney’s “I Love You” song and his plush coming to life when the children wish for it. Simultaneously evoking feelings of nostalgia and uneasiness, the new film “Buddy” is a sure fire way to ignite fear in the hearts of millennials and other generations. The film was directed by Casper Kelly, who wrote and directed 2014’s Too Many Cooks, a dark comedy horror.
We are drawn into the heart and mind of our main protagonist Freddy, played by Delaney Quinn, who is a little girl of about 8 years old or so. There are also well recognized names, such as Keegan-Michael Key and Patton Oswalt, who played Buddy and Strappy the Backpack, respectively. This well-cast list of stars does an outstanding job portraying each of their characters.
The movie, although recommended by this writer, does indeed leave some unanswered questions, such as where does Buddy and his show come from? Who is behind it all? And how does it work?
Not once during the film, however, did I feel like this was a period piece, but rather a well-executed step back in time. The main draw of this film is the unique script, truly leaving you wondering what’s going to happen next and exactly what kind of horror movie you’re watching as the sub genres of slasher, dystopian and psychological are woven together.
This film had the audience audibly groaning at grotesque uncomfortable moments and laughing at the more absurdly awkward scenes.
Buddy releases to a theater new you this Friday Aug 28.
