'The Banana Splits Movie' Movie Review

The Banana Splits Movie is a horror movie based on the kids’ show of the same name from Hanna-Barbera/Sid and Marty Krofft. In this version, however, they’re not quite as cute and cuddly. A little boy named Harley (Finlay Wojtak-Hissong) is obsessed with the Banana Splits, a quartet of goofy, lovable animatronic characters who play songs and games on their TV show. When Harley gets to go to a taping of the show for his birthday, he is absolutely overjoyed. But when the show’s cast and crew are told that the show is being canned, and that this taping will be the last episode, the Splits don’t take it very well, and Harley, his mother (Dani Kind), his older brother (Romeo Carere), his douchebag stepfather (Steve Lund), his reluctant plus-one, Zoe (Maria Nash), and the rest of the studio audience end up in the path of the Splits’ murderous rage.

My first question when I became aware of this movie was this: how in the hell did the filmmakers get the rights to these characters? I mean, this isn’t a sketch, this is a licensed project, featuring real, beloved children’s characters. I really have to respect the current copyright holders for the Banana Splits, because it was a risky move to allow a film to portray these characters in the context of a slasher movie, especially as to let them go as far as actually calling it The Banana Splits Movie. It’s pretty ballsy on their part, because this movie is gory as hell. I thought this movie was pretty fun. Granted, a large amount of the film’s entertainment value is due to the novelty and shock value, but that seems to be what they’re going for, and I can respect that. This was, supposedly, based on a rejected script for a Five Nights at Freddy’s movie, and it’s not too hard for one to tell.

I was actually kind of surprised by how legitimately scary some parts were. There’s one scene in particular that is drawn-out and rather disturbing, almost reminiscent of House of 1000 Corpses. I expected the film to simply stick to the goofy, darkly-comic horror that such a concept would typically warrant, but they managed to instill some genuine fear, albeit sparingly. The majority of the film is sillier and more comedic, and most of it works. There are a few parts that lack a more satisfying payoff, but that isn’t particularly bothersome. Some of the funnier scenes involve gruesome variations of games and bits from the actual show, which are established earlier on in the movie. I especially enjoyed those gags.

The characters aren’t especially well-defined, so the actors are only able to do so much, but they’re competent enough to make the most of it. It’s not like there’s nothing to the characters in the movie, but they mainly just exhibit traits, rather than being three-dimensional. The main character is really Harley, who’s played by Finlay Wojtak-Hissong. I thought he did a really solid job of being a naive kid who’s obsessed with a TV show clearly aimed at kids slightly younger than he is, which is not uncommon among kids who are shy. The mom, Beth, is also pretty compelling, and this is almost entirely due to Dani Kind being very convincing as the struggling, but always selfless, mother. There were also two other characters I really enjoyed, and they also just so happen to be the quickest to go from comedic to dramatic. There are several people who win backstage passes, and there’s a pair of lovers who are a sort of social media power couple. These two are incredibly entertaining, but it’s amazing how quickly I went from laughing at them mockingly to being really invested in them (as a result of certain events that take place).

This is, by all accounts, a messy movie (not just because of its wanton bloodshed). The exposition is kinda sloppy, as they just sort of dump it onto you in the first couple of scenes. There are probably too many characters, and they easily could have combined some of them. I also feel like some of the motivations were a bit too vague. There was one side character in particular who was given hardly any attention, and he plays a prominent role in the origins of the conflict. Arguably the most minute, but blatant, of the movie’s flaws were those of the titular killers themselves. They clearly possess some degree of sentience, since they become aware of their own impending demise and go on a killing spree, but it’s a bit unclear how they were instantly able to become expert, methodical killing machines. Their malevolence is just sprung on the audience without much background or explanation. This, however, wasn’t that big of a deal. I was a little distracted by their movement, though. The characters are animatronic, and sometimes move as such. But there are also times where they are obviously being performed by people in suits. I feel like a simple effort to make the actors’ movements a bit more mechanical would have made a big difference. But all of these issues aside, I still enjoyed the movie. The implausibility of it all is pretty forgivable, noticeable as it may be, given the film’s obvious removal from reality. So I wasn’t all that bothered.

The Banana Splits Movie is entirely ridiculous, and that’s kinda the point. While the film has numerous narrative problems, it is able to coast on its novelty and pure absurdity. The sick delight of seeing beloved children’s characters brutally murdering people gives horror fans just enough to latch onto in order to make this gruesome horror/comedy worth a watch.

SCORE: 4/5