The Banana Splits Movie (2019) Review – Childhood Nostalgia Rebooted as Animatronic Horror
What happens when you take a colorful ‘60s kids’ show and turn it into a full-blown horror slasher? You get The Banana Splits Movie (2019) — a twisted, gore-soaked reimagining that transforms innocent mascots into mechanical murder machines. And somehow… it works.
Our Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
No, it's not a masterpiece — but it is unforgettable. With over-the-top kills, creepy animatronics, and twisted humor, The Banana Splits Movie earns 4 out of 5 stars for being one of the most creative cult horror surprises of the last decade.
Why Does This Movie Exist?
Originally a wacky Hanna-Barbera variety show from 1968, The Banana Splits were cheerful mascots singing, dancing, and entertaining kids with slapstick. Fast forward to 2019: Syfy and Warner Bros. decided to give the characters a horror makeover — turning them into animatronic killers with a vendetta.
The result? A direct-to-video bloodbath that predates Willy’s Wonderland and the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie — and arguably out-weirds them both.
Despite skipping theaters, the movie built a loyal cult following and made waves in the horror community. With dark humor, brutal kills, and a surprising amount of heart, The Banana Splits Movie redefined what horror reboots could be.
What’s The Banana Splits Movie About?
The premise is deliciously absurd: a young boy named Harley celebrates his birthday by attending a live taping of his favorite kids’ show — The Banana Splits. But unbeknownst to the audience, the animatronic performers — Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky — have malfunctioned. After learning the show is being canceled, the Splits go rogue, turning the studio into a deadly trap.
From Saw-style executions to spine removals, this isn’t your average mascot mayhem. It’s bold, bloody, and bizarre in the best way possible.
Scene-by-Scene Breakdown (Recap Highlights)
The Setup
Harley is a sweet, misunderstood kid obsessed with The Banana Splits.
His family includes an angsty older brother, a tired mom, and a douchebag boyfriend named Mitch (rhymes with… yeah).
They head to the studio for a live taping. There are influencers, creepy dads, and stage moms galore.
The Splits Go Psycho
After the show is canceled by a sleazy VP, the animatronics snap.
Stevie, the human co-host, gets a lollipop shoved down his throat by Drooper — our first sweet kill.
The kills escalate quickly: Fleegle saws a guy in half, Drooper sets a man’s face on fire, and Snorky runs over Mitch in a Banana Car (twice).
The VIP Tour from Hell
Harley and the other kids are given VIP passes — but “Very Important Person” quickly becomes “Very Imminent Prey.”
The animatronics force people into game-show death traps, filming their demise as part of a final, sick episode.
The Mechanic & the Fifth Split
A creepy mechanic hints at deeper lore, including plans for a mysterious fifth Banana Split named Hootie.
Influencer Pop dons the Hootie suit and gets revenge with razor-sharp claws.
The Grand Finale
In a twisted climax, the Banana Splits host their final show with burning bodies, spinning wheels, and limb-tearing violence.
Harley defeats Drooper using a wand-to-mouth lobotomy.
Snorky turns out to be the only good animatronic and saves the kids — dying a hero in the process.
But Wait… There’s More
Mitch crawls out of nowhere, begs for forgiveness, and gets decked by the mom.
As the survivors leave, Hootie mows Mitch down with the Banana Car — now filled with the zombified Splits.
Post-Credits? Kinda.
We get a weird shot of the mechanic’s fingers. It’s confusing. Just roll with it.
The Kills – Best Deaths in The Banana Splits Movie
Stevie – Lollipop throat impalement
Thad – Sawed in half during a magic trick
Rude Dad – Face torched off by flaming deodorant
Rebecca – Mallet to the head mid-obstacle course
Mitch – Roadkill twice, and both times satisfying
Why It Works (Yes, Really)
Creepy Animatronics
These things are terrifying. Dead eyes, worn fur, and robotic limbs make them feel like a FNaF fever dream.
Cartoon Gore Meets Slasher Violence
From key-to-the-spine kills to acid pies, it balances comedy with horror perfectly.
Satirical Undertones
Toxic influencers, terrible parents, and corporate greed all get roasted.
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Final Thoughts – Should You Watch The Banana Splits Movie?
Absolutely. It’s weird, wild, and way better than it has any right to be.
This is the kind of movie that leans into the absurdity, and it works. If you like FNaF, Willy’s Wonderland, or just want to see childhood mascots go full Michael Myers, you need to watch this movie.
And with the ending teasing more chaos (and a potential fifth Split), a sequel or animated spinoff doesn’t feel far-fetched. We'd totally watch a Banana Splits: Origins series. Just saying.
