While not as well known as today as they were back then, the Banana Splits were quite a big hit in children's programming as far as rock band animal costumed characters went. So when one would imagine a movie based on these upbeat icons, they would picture a faithfully happy colorful movie centered around the adorable mascots. However, little did anyone imagine that a horror plot would come into fruition, which is what happened in 2019 with the Banana Splits Movie. Despite getting quite the amount of attention back in 2019, it has fallen into obscurity, which is a shame as there's much to unpack with this.
The plot follows a family attending a live taping of the Banana Splits show, only to realize that the titular characters have started a killing spree around the Taft studio due to an upcoming cancellation. As straightforward of a plot as that sounds, that is exactly what we get in the execution, as everything we get throughout the 89 minute runtime is your typical kids show mascot gone psycho premise told so routinely that few surprises actually remain. It doesn't help that the center family we focus on ranges from the number one fanatic kid, the struggling parents, and the dorky half brother, with fairly mediocre performances from their actors. It's easy to figure out what will happen in the story and the film's first act is fairly rushed just to get the obvious gory outbreak of the Splits characters going on a killing spree. Even with a fair amount of screen time dedicated to the Split's programmer Karl, there isn't enough explanation given as to why he'd be okay with his creations going on a murderous spree. What we're left with is a slasher movie less focused on substance than the premise it promised.
However, for all of the film's narrative shortcomings, it does deliver some fairly creative killings in the execution. Since the Banana Splits are so innate in their determination to keep the show going, the amount of vengeance they display on the show runners and audience members is excruciating to say the least. While it's easy to say that anyone who grew up on their show will most likely resent this film for how it portrays the characters, it makes all the more sense to those who have been creeped out by mysterious costumed mascots in kids shows for decades, albeit in a more literal killing sense. Since the filmmakers went for a more practical effects driven direction based on a possible small budget, it makes the film feel more believable in how it wants to tell its story, with lots of fake gore and gushy blood effects to count. As far as the acting is concerned, the performances become a lot more earnest as the film gets more gruesome, complete with the mom coming into the picture to kick some serious splits butt. As odd as a film like this is, at least it gave what it promised.
Outside of any other notable production qualities, the real star of the picture is veteran voice actor Eric Bauza providing the voices for the Banana Splits, recreating the right amount of upbeat energy needed for the contrasting murderous rampage these characters inflict. While a lot of credit needs to go to the performers behind the Splits in the physical stunts alone, Bauza's broad range captures the disturbing fun needed for these kinds of oddball mascots, especially once the real bloodbath ensues. Even though the editing works well in the film's sporadic nature, it can often get a little too choppy for its own good, although that issue is far and few in between a fairly well paced feature. Patrick Stumph's music score adds the right amount of terror and suspense needed for a thrill ride like this, especially once the titular characters go on their obvious carnage spree. It makes sense why the film would choose to focus on the shock value more than any commentary in the entertainment industry, because with scares like this, who needs a well rounded story?
It's safe to say that The Banana Splits Movie is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, specifically those who grew up on the original show and expected a more lighthearted adaptation of the memorable rock group. While it does deserve its place in oddball obscurity, there's some delightful fun just waiting for those who have never seen the original show, let alone heard of it before. No one would have ever imagined a film like this actually happening beyond a simple online parody, and yet somehow it managed to come into fruition. Here's to whatever bizarre entity will occur next time in kids show slasher cinema.
