GrahamS.

Ok, I can’t fall asleep and somehow decided to look on Rotten Tomatoes to see what kind of feedback this was getting. In doing so, I managed to find an article/review that does explain how this got made. I’m kinda tempted to watch the film, but I don’t know anyone else who would bother, so I’m holding off for now. Here’s the article from ComicBook.com, if anyone is interested. Maybe I can go to bed now feeling spiritually fulfilled by knowing I’ve spread the word that this movie exists. The Banana Splits Movie Is Strange, Silly, Bloody Fun By RUSS BURLINGAME - August 14, 2019 06:47 pm EDT Share 1 Comments Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Blue Ribbon Content have just released The Banana Splits Movie, an R-rated horror movie based on the idea that '70s children's TV icons The Banana Splits remained incredibly popular right up until today, with the puppets eventually being replaced with animatronics that went insane and started a murder rampage when the show was abruptly cancelled. And if all of that isn't weird enough for you, the movie -- which is available now digitally, and will hit DVD and Blu-ray later this month before coming to SYFY in October -- is actually pretty good. Before getting into the film's content, it is likely a good idea to get into its backstory. How did this even get made? The short answer is that Warner Bros. saw in The Banana Splitsa potentially valuable piece of intellectual property that had not successfully made them any money in a long time. Peter Girardi, who serves as executive vice president of both Blue Ribbon Content (Warner Bros. Television Group’s digital studio) and Alternative Programming at WB Animation, was the one who decided that horror was the way to go, and he said that part of it was just a matter of where there was interest in the characters. "The characters weren’t doing much," Girardi told ComicBook.com during a recent interview at Comic Con International in San Diego. "I have tried in the past, and colleagues of mine have tried, to reboot a kids’ show. There’s not much interest in it, but in this genre, there’s a lot of interest in it." Into that environment was born The Banana Splits Movie, starring Wynonna Earp's Dani Kind alongside Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries), Naledi Majola, and a handful of very talented child and teen actors. The film, like the recent Tremors direct-to-DVD movies made in cooperation with SYFY, was filmed in and around Cape Town, South Africa, and features a number of actors unfamiliar to U.S. audiences that are turning in solid performances. The Banana Splits themselves are visually indistinguishable from their '60s counterparts in the beginning, and their in-universe TV show is basically a marginally-updated version of the actual show created fifty years ago by children's television luminaries Sid and Marty Krofft. As with a lot of slasher films where the premise is "thing X comes to life and starts murdering folks," the premise itself is not given a ton of thought or explanation, and so it holds up to logical scrutiny fairly well mostly becuase the logic that you would have to apply is so broad. Essentially, a new network executive wants to cancel The Banana Splits Show because it's "old and stupid," and the animatronics' "the show must go on" ethos leads them to attack anyone who might stand in the way of the TV series' continuation. In the context of a children's show, it's easy enough to look at the Banana Splits and say "wow, those things are kind of creepy." In the context of a horror movie, they take on a distinctly silly air, and the movie leans into that aesthetic, and the inherent goofiness of its premise -- hard. Like some of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, there are as many laughs here -- almost exclusively black comedy laughs -- as there is gore. The scares themselves aren't great, but the idea here is less to actually scare you than it is to lean into the strange, unsettling visuals of the Splits. Like a lot of slasher movies, The Banana Splits Movie functions best as a delivery device for cool/strange/funny/creative kills, and dopey one-liners that induce either laughter or groans from the audience. Dani Kind is inspired casting, as she has a similar energy here to what Linda Hamilton has in the Terminatorfranchise. Naledi Majola and Romeo Carere play a couple of cute 20-somethings having one of the most awkward meet-cutes in all of cinema, and child actor Finlay Wojtak-Hissong is believable, with an innocence that allows him to sell some of the movie's strangest and silliest lines without breaking the reality of the film. 1COMMENTS The Banana Splits Movie will be controversial -- especially among those who still have a fondness for the original series -- but it mostly sticks the landing, buoyed by a great cast and a script and crew that clearly understands exactly how truly bizarre the film is. Rating: 4/5

I have another genuine question brought up because of these posts (and maybe other posts have mentioned it but I haven’t seen them). How many suicides are there in the film and how graphic are they? I’m asking because I have tix with a friend but they might not want to come—or at least not watch the film—if it depicts suicide in a graphic/exploitative way. I love HDTGM, but I don’t want a fun night to turn into a triggering experience for my friend. The film looks like a fucking inept shitshow from the preview, so I doubt it would provoke distress, but still, if I can avoid discomfort... I REALLY would appreciate an answer to this from someone. Please and thank you. P.S. Feel free to spoil away. I truly don’t give a shit!

It is apparently available to watch for free on Pornhub according to the HDTGM posting. My 100% genuine question is if I watch this on a computer/phone, will I get burnt with a digital virus? I have no idea how safe/reliable pornhub is. has anyone actually done it and remained clean? Show of hands, please!

The Thing (2011) which was the prequel with Mary Elizabeth Winstead to John Carpenter’s The Thing. Ben Blacker has a podcast on Nerdist that I forget the name of. He interviewed the writer and it was a really interesting episode.

I’m in the same boat. It’s not available on any streaming service or from the library. You can watch chunks of the movie or the entire thing with someone’s commentary over it on YouTube.

Yes, she’s awesome as well. I thought David Thewlis was great in that season of Fargo as well, I just was frustrated by the ending (which I realize was the point, but still...).

Yeah, she was really good in that! She and an actress named Carrie Coon were also the best things in the mixed-bag third season of Fargo.

I rewatched most of the prequel a few months ago (I had to return it to the library so didn’t finish it). It lives in that odd realm where it’s good enough to be decent, but just doesn’t feel necessary. A far shittier film COULD have been made, though, so props to everyone for not phoning it in. And I generally like Mary Elizabeth Winstead a lot. She’s on some show on Amazon called Brain Dead (I think) with Tony Shalhoub and others. It’s a very quirky horror/comedy/political satire. Not for every taste, but I liked it!

I heard the screenwriter of the prequel to The Thing (he also wrote the script for Arrival) interviewed on Ben Blacker’s podcast. The writer did not sound thrilled with how the film came out.

I didn’t think William Jackson Harper (the guy from The Good Place, which is great)’s character knew that the cliff jump was part of their rituals. I think he was drawn to the mystery of the group and the fact that they were so secretive, the appeal being that he would be the first person to really write about the inner workings of this cult. The cliff scene shocked him as much as anyone. On the other hand, I could be wrong about that because the movie started falling apart for me at the cliff sequence (and so I wasn’t paying super-close attention). The idea of horror in the daylight works as a concept for me, but this movie made it into a cartoon.

Happy birthday, by the way!

My list would be: The Grand Budapest Hotel Escape From New York Raising Arizona Fight Club Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Donnie Darko Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World

I watched part of this with my niece and nephews while on vacation. I remember liking the first two Spy Kids films in the past. This one was horrible.

Of those three you listed, I will defend Batman Returns because it’s way better than the original Batman (no terrible Prince score, for starters, and I think Prince was great). The movie is still a mess, but it's a weird hybrid of gothic camp that’s pretty funny and has some great performances (especially Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken). Other than Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, it is—for better or worse—the best Batman film. It certainly reflects the movie that Burton wanted to make. Whether or not you connect to the movie depends on how much you liked Burton in his prime.

I have tickets to the Seattle shows and this post made me concerned. Are there any other disclaimers I should be made aware of? What are the side effects of Neil Breen? Should I abstain from alcohol before viewing? Also, re: the discussion of The Goonies, I was born in 1974 so I was 10 when it came out. As a kid, I loved it because Spielberg could do no wrong in my eyes (even as an executive producer. I also loved Explorers, Young Sherlock Holmes, etc.). I rewatched it on Netflix when it had just started as a streaming service and it did not hold up at all. It was just grating. If you’re feeling nostalgic for 80s movies with kids, watch Big or Stand By Me.

Dick’s is the ultimate Seattle fast food. Don’t let anybody tell you different. I’ve heard people complain that it’s not as good as In N Out, which may be true, but there isn’t any In N Out up here. Plus Dick’s got name-checked on Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “My Posse’s on Broadway!” P.S.: I’ve always called Taco Bell “Taco Hell” because I got food poisoning at the location on Broadway. It’s where good tacos are tortured. Final tangent: if you live in Seattle and have a library card, you can stream The Visitor on Hoopla for free!

The script is terrible.

I agree! I also was SUPER apprehensive about how he would handle Sharon Tate’s story and was pleasantly surprised by how Tarantino wrapped things up. Whether or not he retires/does Star Trek after this, I thought this was a strong film to go out on.

Yes! This movie is terrible/awesome!

This isn’t a great movie but it does have a cult following. I think the performances sell it. It may be the one movie where Paul WS Anderson cares about craftsmanship because it’s far more ambitious than any of his other stuff. Since the story is about a ghost ship from Hell, it’s fun in over-the-top way When I saw this in the 90s, I also had a visceral reaction to the eye mutilation. I don’t know if this movie is “bad” enough to make a good episode, but I think—with it’s grotesque gore and dead-child trauma—June would hate it.. i also think Sunshine is much better sci-fi, but its final third also goes off the rails for the slasher section.

You could do the first one because it is pretty dull and has not aged well. The third one is fun but quirky enough to be a good show. Road Warrior (or Mad Max 2) is an action classic and should be off limits.

I saw the first film in the 80s. Do this one if you want, but PLEASE don’t pick it for your Seattle stop. I don’t want to be subjected to cloying, unwatchable shit I thought I left behind in childhood.

Good question, I don’t know. That’s why I also suggested Disclosure and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. But personally, I think Unforgettable (1996) is the most bananas of the three.

I’m giving this a bump because this would be an excellent choice for the Seattle stop on the tour (followed by Disclosure and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle)!

I have tickets for when they come to Seattle. I think the VIP included a book signing with June, although I would imagine at least Paul would hang around.