I was introduced to The Banana Splits as a child during reruns on network television. Millions of others were introduced to them on Cartoon Network and Boomerang, now The Banana Splits are back in The Banana Splits Movie, only this time they aren’t all a fun and cuddly kids show, but a horror film.
The story follows Harley (Finlay Wojtak-Hissong) an eccentric kid, who is just a little too old to still love The Banana Splits, but his mother Beth (Dani Kind) loves him so much that she forces her jerk husband, Mitch (Steve Lund) and older half-brother, Austin (Romeo Carere) to attend a live taping as they bring along Harley’s friend, Zoe (Maria Nash) along for the terrifying ride.
Little do all the attendees know, is that the show has just been canceled and Karl (Lionel Newton) the handler of the animatronic creatures is none to happy, changing their settings from kind to kill. The show goes on and gives audience participation a whole new meaning.
The Banana Splits Movie has a cartoon violence style of fun in a live action Goosebumps level horror film. The film is not scary, which is saying a lot from a big chicken like me, who hates horror films. There are some gross moments, but nothing anyone under 12 couldn’t really handle. However, The Banana Splits Movie is Rated-R for gore, but really should have been Rated-R because there they surpass the two big bad curse words allowed for a feature length film.
The new King of Warner Bros., Eric Bauza, voices all four band members in Bingo, Fleegle, Snorky and Drooper. Bauza does so much work voicing over Warner Bros characters that we joked on Instagram that the film was Executive Produced, Directed, Written and starred Bauza. We even said all the live action characters were Bauza in various forms of make-up.
What I really enjoyed about The Banana Splits Movie is that every character (here’s a big spoiler) that you said, “Uh, I wish they would die!” ends up dying! Warner Bros. definitely made us happy in that regard.
If you are familiar with The Banana Splits, then The Banana Splits Movie is exactly how you expect a horror version to go about, including rebuilt sets from the original late-1960s series, including the jungle scenery. The only complaint, if you can call it that, is that there weren’t any cameos from cast members from the live-action adventure scenes in the original series.
The Banana Splits Movie comes to Blu-ray and DVD drop on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 and is already available on Digital.
- Banana Splits: Behind the Horror
- Banana Splits: Behind the Horror
- Terror on Set
- Breaking News! The Banana Splits Massacre
- Overall Score
Summary
The Banana Splits Movie has a cartoon violence style of fun in a live action Goosebumps level horror film. The film is not scary, which is saying a lot from a big chicken like me, who hates horror films. There are some gross moments, but nothing anyone under 12 couldn’t really handle.
