Buddy takes the familiar world of 1990s children's television and turns it into a strange, violent and surprisingly entertaining supernatural slasher. Casper Kelly's feature directorial debut benefits enormously from its meticulous recreation of the era, with colourful production design, original songs and practical effects helping to make It's Buddy! feel convincingly like a lost children's programme. The contrast between Buddy's relentlessly cheerful personality and the increasingly horrific events around him provides much of the film's dark humour, while Delaney Quinn, Cristin Milioti and Keegan-Michael Key all deliver strong performances.
The main weakness is that the premise struggles to sustain a full feature. Buddy has an excellent central idea, but the concept becomes repetitive and the film's later detours occasionally weaken its focus. The third act is less controlled, some of the commentary on children's media feels underdeveloped, and the film is ultimately not as disturbing as its premise might suggest. Even so, its distinctive world-building, surreal horror, nostalgia and willingness to embrace its bizarre concept make Buddy stand out. It is an original and well-made horror film that remains genuinely entertaining despite its flaws.
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