Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: BUDDY [SXSW Film - Austin, Texas]
"Buddy" [Headliner] is a ride of a film and though disjointed in a way makes total sense in its breakdown of the darkness possible in children's' television shows. Part Pee Wee's Playhouse and part Barney satire, it takes the idea to the horror level with the main character of the show "Buddy" actually is a dark force of sorts that makes these episodes in their own world. He needs love to survive but whenever it is questioned it becomes a problem. It seems that this a circle of trauma that keeps breaking down. The first 20 minutes of the film lulls the viewer into an uneasy sense of security of what the reality of the film might be as it follows a specific humor and cadence (until it starts to break down further). One of the kid misbehaves and even though just inferred, it goes dark fast. This is a black comedy mixed within a context of fantasy but one that builds on the breakdown of dreams. Director Casper Kelly has cut his teeth at Adult Swim and on "V/H/S Halloween" so the tone (in all its glory) is in that vein. The key is to take those people in genre that one might (or might not think of) and flip it out. The key here as the throughline is the kids who can only play what they are given to a certain point. It is meant to feel off-putting but of all of them, Delaney Quinn as Freddy stays the course in terms of what the films actually is (though she herself is a kid). It is not an easy path for a 12 or 13 year old to do considering the subject matter. When the film shifts, we settle on Cristin Milioti's Grace who is living her own life but for a little while we do not know quite what we are seeing (nor do we) as it unravels.
The connection is there but the way Buddy works, he has control of his world but as the rules and the way he functions come more into focus, the path is a little clearer. The film doesn't explain how such a place exists, nor does it need to. Some films or TV project need to have that basis but "Buddy" acts like a slightly longer "Amazing Stories" episode mixed with Shudder's recent "Creepshow" TV series. Kelly is making this film for his own reasons but some of the creatives behind do get him. Michael Shannon and Clint Howard play an odd pair in a certain form but it almost helps that you don't know it is them yet it also speaks to a deeper mythology. The multitude of people including the voice actor playing Buddy gives it an edge so there is a reason he comes from the angle he does. The fits of rage and the details that make up both the intro and latter half of the film add to the uneasy tone. But Casper is also smart to build the different parts of the film in certain ways so it is always very clear where the characters are, even if you don't understand its motivation as much. As the film reaches its climax, it melds its different ideas together which makes it a little more terrifying overall. In a way it mirrors in that moment "Exit 8", the excellent video game adaptation that played last year's Cannes Film Festival. That movie, and this one, like many is about perspective and perception and how do we come to terms with the path that has been chosen. Kelly doesn't pull the punches. The film is brutal in its horrific setting and comedy and up the stakes because Kelly isn't afraid to play bad with his characters. That is the great thing about creatives that cut their teeth at Adult Swim...they take risks. "Buddy" might not work in all that it does. It missteps at times but also takes big swings. It is not for everyone but it is definitely for its audience. B
By Tim Wassberg
