Review of "The Banana Splits Movie” by The Headless Critic

The Banana Splits Movie – 2019

Production by: Blue Ribbon Content
Distribution by: Warner Bros. – 2019



Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la, Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la,
Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la, Tra-la-la, Terror!
One banana, two banana, three banana, four, four automated bananas splits have a show no more.
For no good reason the network let them go, bringing an end to The Banana Splits Show.
Killin’ is so much fun, Killin’ is so much fun but not fun for everyone!
Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la, Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la,
Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la, Tra-la-la, Terror!

Young Harley (Finlay Wojtak-Hissong) is a huge fan of the popular kids show The Banana Splits. For his birthday his parents Beth (Dani Kind) and Mitch (Steve Lund) get him and his brother Austin (Romeo Carere) tickets to The Banana Splits live show. Like many other kids attending tonight’s show it’s a dream come true for little Harley, until his dream becomes a nightmare.

Four banana, three banana. two banana, one, all The Banana Splits bashing out bright warm blood for fun.
Smashin’ like a pancake, poppin’ heads like a cork, Fleagle, Bingo, Drooper and Snork
Killin’ is so much fun, Killin’ is so much fun but not fun for everyone!
Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la, Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la,
Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la, Tra-la-la, Terror!

Co-staring alongside The Banana Splits is Stevie (Richard White) who just overhead show executive Andy (Daniel Fox) say that The Banana Splits have been cancelled. When Stevie tells the electronic Banana Splits tonight’s show is their last, Bingo (Eric Bauza), Fleegle (Eric Bauza), Drooper (Eric Bauza) and Snorky (Eric Bauza), The Banana Splits go mad and try to kill everyone at the television taping.

Two banana, four banana, one banana, three, swingin’ blunt objects like their crazy as can be
Once very popular among most kids, they went crazy when their show still ends.
Killin’ is so much fun, Killin’ is so much fun but not fun for everyone!
Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la, Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la,
Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la, Tra-la-la, Terror!

In the late 1960’s until 1970 Hanna Barbara aired The Banana Splits television show. Now almost fifty years since they originally left television Bingo, Fleegle, Drooper and Snorky are back, they’re electronic, they are murderous with a blunt brutality. Unlike many old television shows revived into movies, The Banana Splits Movie takes a completely different turn to the satire we usually see, smashing, cutting and killing their way through their fan base. Younger fans who don’t know The Banana Splits can image a show like the Teletubbies being brought back with Tinkie Winkie wielding a bloody sledgehammer.

Four banana, one banana, three banana, four, if you’re going to survive you’d better run for the door
The Banana Splits are coming and their going to split your skull in a show so fun it’ll never get dull.
Killin’ is so much fun, Killin’ is so much fun but not fun for everyone!
Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la, Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la,
Tra-la-la, la-la-la-la, Tra-la-la, Terror!

The Banana Splits television show was a little before my time but I absolutely love the return to a horror concept here. I have no idea who came up with this brilliant concept but the modern day Flinstone’s, The Jetson’s and Scooby-Doo writers Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas wrote this conceptual masterpiece with Danishka Esterhazy directing. Many of the performances are satire over-the-top like most other tv shows made into films I don't like. There are enough blunt force trauma deaths done practical to make me not care. I enjoyed The Banana Splits Movie more than I ever should have. It may be my guilty pleasure horror film of the year. Now if Barney the Dinosaur goes on a killing spree my life in cinema will be complete.

Available Now on Blu-ray & VOD

3 out of 5 Headless Critics