Buddy Review: Casper Kelly’s Darkly Humorous Take on Ordinary Kids’ TV at Sundance Film Festival
German political theorist Hannah Arendt warned of the “banality of evil” in 1963, and director Casper Kelly employs this concept in a unique fashion in his latest anarchic horror-comedy, which sets an ingenious slasher narrative against the backdrop of children’s television.
Kelly gained widespread attention in 2014 for his viral short film Too Many Cooks, which also explored surreal scenarios involving sitcom characters and a serial killer. His latest work, Buddy, similarly plays with expectations, veering into mind-bending territory as it unfolds. This time, it brings audiences on a psychedelic journey through a disorientingly dark lens.
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The film opens within the confines of a fictional 1999 TV show called Buddy, a whimsical setting overseen by an overly friendly orange plush character, described as “a unicorn from a magic land.” It resembles a pastel paradise reminiscent of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood fused with Pee-wee’s Playhouse. In this idyllic world, children turn to Buddy for guidance while singing songs about the niceties of suburban American life. However, an unsettling twist emerges when a boy named Josh, seeking solitude with his YA book A Wrinkle in Reality, confronts Buddy, declaring, “I hate you,” much to Buddy’s dismay.
The show’s format undergoes a reset, a recurring theme that vacillates throughout the film. In the next episode, a new character, the enthusiastic Hannah (Madison Skyy Polan), joins the mix. As Hannah leads a song-and-dance routine, another character named Freddy (Delaney Quinn) discovers Josh’s blood-stained book in the trash—another quirky detail in a world where even waste receptacles are animated. When Freddy shares her discovery with Wade (Caleb “C.J” Williams), Buddy insists that Josh has moved to Diamond City, dismissing the stains as mere red paint from an arts and crafts mishap.
The situation escalates when Nurse Nancy (Phuong Kubacki) becomes the victim of a gruesome murder, leading Freddy and Wade to conclude that Buddy is experiencing a psychotic breakdown. They hatch a plan to escape to Diamond City, only to find their route guarded by a park Buddy has long claimed is filled with monsters. In a dramatic turn, Buddy now unleashes violence on otherwise benign characters like Mr. Mailbox and Charlie the Train, shifting the stakes.
As the film progresses, it transitions from the colorful, vintage format of the fictional show to the present day, where Grace (Cristin Milioti) shares a home with her husband Ben (Topher Grace) and their two sons. One evening, as Grace feels a chilling sense of dread during dinner, she calls in a parapsychologist (Brooke Blum) for a séance. This event causes the television to turn on, featuring an episode of Buddy, a show that Grace soon discovers may not genuinely exist.
Central to the film’s intrigue is the mystery of Buddy’s intentions toward Grace. The narrative evolves into a puzzling scavenger hunt, leading characters on a quest beyond the boundaries of reality and fiction. Echoing themes found in Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow, Buddy prompts reflection on our emotional investment in fictional worlds. The film also addresses the complexities of growing up, signaling that Freddy and Wade might simply be outgrowing the fantasy worlds they once cherished. Additionally, it quietly raises questions about the exploitative aspects of child actors in such realms, resonating with recent controversies in the industry.
The performances of Milioti and Quinn are pivotal to the film’s success, delivering depth that transforms the experience beyond mere humor. As the narrative unfolds, the comedic elements fade, and the contributions of guest voice actors—such as Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Shannon, and Patton Oswalt—become secondary. The ending presents an enigmatic resolution that leaves viewers pondering, channeling a nearly Lynchian quality that lingers well beyond the film’s more entertaining moments.
Title: Buddy
Festival: Sundance (Midnight)
Sales: Worry Well Productions
Director: Casper Kelly
Screenwriters: Casper Kelly, Jamie King
Cast: Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Shannon, Patton Oswalt
Running time: 1 hr 35 mins
