Buddy (2026) initially resembles an imitation children's program—it strongly evokes the unsettling atmosphere of Don't Hug Me I’m Scared and Amanda the Adventurer—before taking a disturbing turn. Following segments that mimic episodes like those from Barney, it unexpectedly transitions to scenes depicting a conventional family. The mother becomes aware that something is amiss when her daughter is pulled into Buddy’s alternate reality. The frequent shifts between the mother's investigation in the real world and the bizarre dimension felt disjointed and as though I was watching two separate movies, but things improve once she enters Buddy’s realm. It certainly has a distinctive storyline! The film features effective body horror elements; however, it really could have benefited from significantly more gore to match its mascot slasher theme. The conclusion is fantastic: an even split between a heartwarming "Aww, happy ending!" and “Wow, that's awful for you!” 😂 Overall, despite a perplexing shift in the middle of the film, Buddy delivers a darkly nostalgic horror experience filled with tragic humor.

Source on TMDB