The Banana Splits Movie (review) – a brave, inventive, and gore-soaked return of the late-sixties TV show

In Danishka Esterhazy’s delightfully dark romp, our furry friends have become deranged robot killers, slowly wiping out their nostalgia-loving audience with glee in what can only be described as a brave, inventive, and gore-soaked return of the late-sixties TV show. The Banana Splits is now available to stream, rent or buy

Who remembers The Banana Splits? You know, those strange-looking human-sized animals who formed a rock band, kind of like The Monkees, in foam, fur, and rubber. For me, The Banana Splits were always decidedly creepy, with each character carrying a whiff of psychosis. Therefore, when Warner Bros. announced a Banana Splits Movie, I initially thought we would be offered a shrink-wrapped nostalgia piece of disturbing childhood memories. However, what we got instead was far more darkly delicious.

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In an alternate present day where The Banana Splits continue to dominate TV schedules, young Harley (Finlay Wojtak-Hissong) is one of their biggest fans. Therefore, his mum, Beth (Dani Kind), arranges a special surprise for his birthday: a visit to the Banana Splits’ live recording. Harley is delighted, but his dad, Mitch (Steve Lund), is less than enthused, as is his hormonal teenage brother, Austin (Romeo Carere). But with a young school friend in tow, the family arrives at the studios for the birthday treat, unaware that this will be the final ever Banana Splits show as the singing and dancing robots say cheerio with a bloody spectacular.

Mixing elements of Child’s Play, Westworld, and Five Nights at Freddy’s, Esterhazy creates a deliciously dark nostalgia-fest where Children’s TV becomes a nightmare of epic proportions for fans, young and old. But the real bravery and creativity come from the decision to subvert The Banana Splits legacy – something viewers will either lap up or struggle to accept as their childhood memories turn to horror.