The Banana Splits Movie (DVD)

I'll be up front about this: it isn't a great movie. I'd go as far as to say that it's an OK movie, even a good movie, but how you receive it will be dependent on what you expect out of it. If you are looking for a serious movie, then this isn't it. This movie pretty much sets itself up as a film that shouldn't be taken seriously by not only positing the Banana Splits show as something that is still being made, but also claiming that it's still wildly popular. Anyone who is familiar with shows that rely on one or more people wearing an animal suit is pretty much aware that these shows have a very limited shelf life and an appeal that rarely lasts beyond the generation of children who watched it when it was first released. Shows like Barney both break free of this mold while also still falling into several of the same pitfalls, but by large they're going to sink into relative obscurity after no new episodes are released. If a similar claim were to be made about Barney being wildly popular still, some eye rolling and "yeah, sure" comments would also be made. There's not a huge amount of plot here, as the main focus is more to just enjoy the scenes of chaos as our animatronic baddies set out to kill, threaten, or contain anyone they come across. It's not the destination, it's the ride. Approach this movie in the same way that you would something like Sharknado and you're golden, as that movie had the same idea: just throw absurd stuff at the walls and see what sticks. This movie's goal isn't to scare you, it's to entertain you. Now some will obviously say that this is a Five Nights at Freddy's ripoff and well, they'd be right to a certain degree. This was very much created as a stand-in for the movie that seems to be stuck in some sort of production limbo (not quite in Development Heck, but not really active either). The film's cast, crew, and creators seem to be pretty aware that this won't be the FNAF film that people want and revel in this to a degree, taking the opportunity to create something that is just absolutely ridiculous and insane. My personal favorite of the film has to have been the actor for Stevie. His IMDb shows that he's never been in anything before this that ended up on the site, but he really approaches his role with absolute glee. The actors all seem to do this to varying degrees, but none so much as this guy. Here's hoping that someone in Hollywood saw this, as I think he'd make a marvelous bad guy in other horror movies.

First off, support Indie Horror Comedies and know they are WAY harder to make than mainstream pumped out films. People have to work way harder on these. Just a disclaimer, I did not work on and am not connected to this movie whatsoever nor do I know anyone on the crew or in the cast, but I am in the indie film community so my view is coming from that side. I know how hard it is to get these movies made. That being said, if you appreciate indie horror and B movies you will dig it. There are some major ally cheesy moments (the cigar, did he need a cigar? not really..) but it's a load of fun. The FX team nailed it. NAILED it. Great FX done with major gore.

The Banana Splits was a cartoon show when I was a kid, and I recall the silly exploits of the characters (though, till I saw this video, I would have been hard pressed to remember any of their names). This is not a hard thinky-thinky movie, and if you approach this as a film to be analyzed in film school fashion then you will be disappointed. So, don't do that. The movie starts with a boy surprising his mom dozing on the couch while the Banana Splits cartoon plays in the background. He is wearing a Snorky (the elephant character in Banana Splits) costume. It is the boy's birthday, and he loves the Banana Splits. In the morning, he finds out that his mom has purchased him tickets to see a live performance of the beloved act. Yeah! While our chipper lad is enroute, the Splits find out that they have been cancelled. What?!?!?! Well, they are not going to take it lying down. Hilarious horror ensues. **Beware Spoiler Follows** The Splits are actually robots, and their **eeeeevil** creator is behind the mayhem. Remember our young lad likes Snorky? Well, in the end, that special bond saves him and his friends. This is a fun movie for anyone that enjoys a "B" or "C" grade film. There is a lot of red jelly and some gory prosthetic work. It is not for the very youngest, but most teens and tweens should be fine with it. There is a scene at the end that could potentially lead to a sequel, but I would not count on that. The film ends with the dire animatronics out of commission, the boy has a new friend, and the mom is ridding herself of the deadbeat, stepdad. Roll the credits.

Pretty cheeky film, a mix of comedy and horror to create something unique. Some of the gore scenes seem unrealistic but still a good film overall. 7/10

Thank you