Barney voice actor Dean Wendt has shared his honest review after watching the killer-unicorn horror comedy Buddy. The movie opened in theaters on August 28, 2026, following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Wendt took to Instagram this week to share his thoughts on the latest horror movie. In his initial reaction video, he joked that the film was “not super de duper” from Barney’s perspective. He also pointed out that the movie’s set and end-credits font looked the same as they did during his time as the iconic purple dinosaur.
When viewers asked for his genuine opinion, the 58-year-old voice actor praised the movie for its humor, performances, and nostalgic similarities. “I thought it was hilarious. I thought it was fun,” Wendt said in his Instagram video. “There were so many things about it that reminded me of being back on set.”
The voice actor also praised Keegan-Michael Key, who voices the titular unicorn. “Keegan did a great job with the voice. Just amazing performances all around,” the Elgin-born actor added.
Buddy puts a twisted spin on a familiar childhood icon
Buddy follows a colorful children’s television program led by a bright orange unicorn mascot. The host teaches kids life lessons through song and dance. However, the cheerful world takes a dark, unexpected turn when a young kid refuses to participate, unleashing pure horror.
The movie opened to rave reviews when it premiered in theaters. As of writing, the 95-minute film currently holds an 88% critics’ score based on 112 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile, audiences rated it 76%. On the box office side, the movie has grossed $6 million so far, according to Box Office Mojo.
Despite its premise centered on children, the R-rated film is not for children. The movie also features an ensemble cast of Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key, and Michael Shannon, among others.
Buddy is now playing in theaters, distributed by Roadside Attractions and Saban Films.
Originally reported by Manoj Chekkilla on ComingSoon.net.
