Have you ever watched Barney? Have you watched him as a gentle purple giant playing with and inspiring the kids. And while you were watching, did you ever wonder what would happen if Barney just lost it one day and turned on his co-stars?

I wager if you’ve wondered that, you’re not alone. The makers of the new horror film Buddy likely had the same thought. Only they took that exploration a step further and brought the nightmare to life.

In the film, Buddy (Keegan Michael Key) is a cuddly, bright orange unicorn. He’s a friend to all the children and adults in his special place. When they call on his name, he’s there to help them and to help guide them through life. He does it all with a warm smile, some hugs, and a catchy ear worm of a song.

But the problem is, Buddy is broken. He seems to have slipped out of his happy persona into something darker. He begins attacking the special creatures and adults on the periphery, doing them harm. When the kids catch on to this change, things really get dark.

Soon, the kids who he’s captured and brought into his magical realm are forced to flee for their lives. Can they find a way out? Can they find a way to stop this menacing orange nightmare?

You don’t have to wonder if the film is riffing on Barney, it’s pretty clear. Not only is the show-within-a-show earily similar, Buddy’s catchy theme song is a near perfect rip-off. And that’s what makes this a lot of fun. We have heard rumblings of supposed Barney films, or dark Barney films, and this scratches that itch. It also has a few twists in concept that make it feel compelling and like a bit of fun.

The film comes from director Casper Kelly, who co-wrote the script with Jamie King. He has a good feel for the material and building a world that feels fit for kids but is just a bit twisted. The film is shot in the style of an old, 1990s public access episode, too, which adds to the nostalgia of the sequences.

It’s also a film blessed with some talented adult contributors. Key is great in bringing Buddy to life. Patton Oswalt provides a character voice and Michael Shannon shows up to voice a character with a unique relationship with a pitch-perfect Clint Howard. Yes, it’s a horror film, but you can’t help but laugh at some of the sequences and the way it all comes together.

We also get a wider subplot about the world and how these kids came to be trapped here. That brings us a fun interlude with Topher Grace and Cristin Milioti, who ends up playing a bigger role in the back half of the film. All of it works well to build tension and take you on a wild ride.

The film clocks in at 95 minutes, so it doesn’t wear out its welcome. It also wraps things up in a clever fashion with a closing twist that is in keeping with the tone of the rest of the film. It’s at times gory and often unsettling, but it delivers well on the premise. This will be a fun theater-going experience for horror fans looking to wrap up August in style.

Buddy is now playing nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.