It’s “Barney the Dinosaur” meets “Poltergeist” with a sprinkle of “Wizard of Oz” and “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse”. “Buddy” is a dialed up slasher horror movie, but more psychological once it’s wholly critique. It is a film that is a by-product of tv and movie consumerism.  Its source material and the core of where the concept derived from is out loud obvious. Flipping things that are marketed and consumed by kids and flipping it to be the center of a horror is nothing new. What is new is its brashness and bold presentation that it is all make believe. It’s the concept that kid shows, although appearing harmless and benign can actually be harmful. “Buddy” is about control, about just how much control t.v. shows have on us. The arch mascot title of the film is a giant metaphor of how we turn to brain rot as we are sucked into the world of t.v. make believe and turn off reality.  To take a setting of kids programming and slash it up to a blood pulp tells us no one is safe. Even when trying to make it safe and comfortable, and that’s the job of horror. Horror can be anywhere. Buddy in the movie represents control. To challenge him and not do what he wants turns him demonic.  An old concept with a refreshing presentation that no one is safe from its advert addiction at any age. It is a film that knows it is a film and uses the world of film to show us blatenyl that it is all fake, yet real to people in the film. 

Light on motivation but solid in metaphor and themes  “Buddy” works when you are familiar with where its sources come from. The comedy and horror fall into place. It’s not a serious horror but deals with somber topics. It knows tone and theme don’t have to match. It is an satisfying well deserved ending that will stay you for a long time. It is the right ending for this kind of film. It was great commitment to eerie. Something is not right and that is felt through. What hurts the film is the fallout between the end of the second act and beginning of the third. Cutting out all of Clint Howard’s scenes won’t damage any of the world building and development of the film. It’s so clearly filler that it is desperately calling out to be removed.  Especially when the first hour of the film is actually compelling.    

Child actors have to be great for a film like this and Delany Quinn just doesn’t deliver; she steals the film. A film that features Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key (playing Buddy) and Michael Shannon.  All remarkable, and accomplished performers and she is the amazing star of this. 

“Buddy” might fall off being remembered as one of the great horror films of 2026 but it is already a loaded category. It’s just nears being justified to be on the list. The themes and concepts are there. It’s weird, it tantalizing, and just a little more than enough there to make it worth seeing 7.5/10