Delaney Quinn and Buddy’s Young Cast Win Over Critics as the Horror Film Opens in Theaters

Buddy, the horror comedy from writer-director Casper Kelly, opened in theaters today, and the reviews are backing up exactly what TDN told readers about the film last week. Buddy has climbed to 88 percent positive on Rotten Tomatoes, enough to earn the site’s Certified Fresh badge, and a 69 out of 100 score on Metacritic, described as “generally favorable,” with several critics singling out the same young cast TDN spotlighted ahead of release.

RogerEbert.com’s review put it plainly, calling the child actors excellent across the board and writing that it can’t be overstated how accomplished they are as their characters start to sense something is wrong with the world Buddy has built for them. That ensemble includes Delaney Quinn, Luke Speakman, Caleb Williams, Madison Skyy Polan, Tristan Borders, Seamus Flynn and Bryson JonSteele, playing the amnesiac kids trapped inside “It’s Buddy!,” a children’s show hosted by a tyrannical orange unicorn voiced by Keegan-Michael Key. IndieWire called it a bloodthirsty riff on Barney and one of the best midnight movies of the year.

Buddy premiered at Sundance back in January before landing in theaters today from Roadside Attractions and Saban Films. Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, Michael Shannon and Patton Oswalt round out the adult cast, but on opening day, it’s the young ensemble TDN introduced first that critics keep coming back to.