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‘The Banana Splits Movie’ Review: Dir. Danishka Esterhazy [Frightfest 2019]

The Banana Splits Movie review: People of a certain age prepare to have your childhood memories shattered as The Banana Splits go on a murder spree in the wonderfully entertaining The Banana Splits Movie.

It was only in February that we were speaking to director Danishka Esterhazy about the film Level 16. At the time she was in South Africa just about to start filming The Banana Splits Movie, now barely six months later, the film is finished, has screened at Arrow Video Frightfest, and is already available on DVD. That’s fast by anybody’s standards, but even more so when you stop to think that Level 16 took Esterhazy a decade to get off the ground. That film was a science-fiction dystopian thriller with a feminist slant. It was slow, subtle and required the audience’s full attention. The Banana Splits is a rather different beast.

Set in an alternate present day timeline where The Banana Splits is still on the air, the film follows die-hard Banana Splits fan Harley (Finlay Wojtak-Hissong) on his birthday. As a special surprise, his mother Beth (Dani Kind) has snagged tickets to a live recording of the show. Harley is delighted, but his older brother Austin (Romeo Carere) and father Mitch (Steve Lund) are less than enthused. The trip soon turns into a nightmare as there’s something off with the Banana Splits today. They’ve just found out that their show is being cancelled and they haven’t taken the news well. It’s not long before heads start to roll, and Harley and his family are fighting for their lives.

It’s important to note that the Splits of the film aren’t people in suits, but rather robots. Bad robots. It’s a glitch that causes their original programming to be overridden and the news of their cancellation that pushes them over the edge. Making them remorseless robots rather than maniacs in suits has proven to be the right decision. Yes at times it feels a little bit like the Itchy and Scratchy Land episode of The Simpsons, but it retains the fun of the story. If it were to just be bad people in suits, events would feel a little seedier, almost Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects, which just wouldn’t work with the Splits.

In our world The Banana Splits aired from 7th September 1968 until 5th September 1970, making just thirty-one episodes before its cancellation. It remained around for years afterwards though, via the power of re-runs, and has a sentimental place in the hearts of many of those whom watched it as a child. Those fond memories, much like Harley in the film, will be put to the test as you watch your favourite Split murder hapless audience members. There is an air of Killer Klowns From Outer Space to the way that these robot Splits interact with the world around them. Sadly there aren’t any candy-floss guns, but Esterhazy does answer the question of whom would win in a fight to the death, Bingo or Snorky.

The negatives of the film is that some of the production feels a little bit rushed. The effects especially are a little hit and miss; there’s a moment involving a flamethrower that is particularly unrealistic. It also bogs itself down with a few too many disposable audience members whom just clog up the narrative without really adding much to it.

A very different film to Level 16, with The Banana Splits Movie Esterhazy more than proves her range and ability to diversify. It’s a fun-filled ninety minutes that plays out as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for grown-ups.

The Banana Splits Movie was reviewed at Arrow Video Frightfest 2019. It is available to own on home entertainment platforms tomorrow. 

Kat Hughes is a UK born film critic and interviewer who has a passion for horror films. An editor for THN, Kat is also a Rotten Tomatoes Approved Critic. She has bylines with Ghouls Magazine, Arrow Video, Film Stories, Certified Forgotten and FILMHOUNDS and has had essays published in home entertainment releases by Vinegar Syndrome and Second Sight. When not writing about horror, Kat hosts micro podcast Movies with Mummy along with her five-year-old daughter.

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