Tralala Terror! The Banana Splits Movie.

The Banana Splits Movie

2019 | R | 1 Hr 29 Min | Horror | Warner Brothers

Director: Danishka Esterhazy

Writers: Jed Elinoff, Scott Thomas

Stars: Dani Kind, Steve Lund, Celina Martin

Synopsis: A boy named Harley and his family (brother Austin, mother Beth, and step-father Mitch) attends a taping of The Banana Splits TV show, which is supposed to be a fun-filled birthday for young Harley and business as usual for Rebecca, the producer of the series. But things take an unexpected turn -- and the body count quickly rises. Can Harley, his mom, and their new pals safely escape?

WWWWWWHAT a show from my childhood is coming back! So freaking cool or at least I had hoped so. I have to give Warner Brothers credit for going way outside of the box buy taking a kid's franchise from the 70s and giving them a dark side. And it works well I mean they were creepy when I was a young lad. I was just there for the Adam Ant cartoons. So give these guys a chance to go rogue and see what happens. 

 

Let's clear something up first this movie is really flat for the first forty-five minutes to an hour. My reasoning for this comes down to the dull and stiff cast. This family is so depressing you just never get attached so when the shit finally hits the fan you're not invested. Part of what makes horror fun is your invested in the cast and your pulling for them. In this one you can't wait for them to die - that sounds so bad but it's true.

 

Once the carnage begins it never slows down allowing the last thirty minutes to be brutally fun. Some kills where cleaver and based on the show where others well they are fine but the whole time we had no tension to build upon thanks to those lame families.  

 

 

For what its worth Banana Splits is a fun romp that is worth the look, last year this played on SyFy every day during the Halloween season so I'm sure they will bring it back this year. It's a good idea just takes time to develop. 

3 Bloody Brains out of 5

The Footage has Been Found

Reel Evil
2012 | Color | 78 Minutes | Widescreen | NR | Horror | 5.1 Surround Sound | Full Moon Features

Director: Danny Draven

Producer: Charles Band

Writers: Shane Bitterling

Stars:

Jessica Morris (Bloody Murder, Venom)
Kaiwi Lyman (Mega Python Vs Gatoroid)
Jeff Adler (Reel Evil)
Jamie Bernadette (Mortal Kombat: Rebirth)
Jim Tavare (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)

Struggling filmmakers - Kennedy, Cory and James - finally catch the break they were looking for when they are hired to shoot a 'behind-the-scenes' documentary for a major studio production. But their dream job quickly turns into a nightmare when they explore the legendary, haunted location and find something far worse than anything Hollywood could create. Terror becomes reality for the filmmakers as they uncover the malevolent secrets of the hospital, and the sinister doctor who once ran it. Trapped inside the hospital with no apparent way out, our crew is tormented by the evil, unspeakable fear.

I know another "found footage" movie right? Right but... somehow this one is different. When you talk about found footage we all think Blair Witch and how it makes you sick watching it. Well it's all that motion sickness you get from watching the jerky camera. Reel Evil finds fun and clever ways to address this issue. Sure they have the shaking going on but in a very minimal way.  When you have a strong plot and a good cast a movie like this is easy to watch. 

Sure its a bit of a slow burn but once they break off into the asylum it gets going pretty good. The eerie atmosphere draws you in and keeps you guessing all the way through. Danny Draven shines with this movie. Everything works the sound, editing and cast are all perfect and fit in well. It has noting new to offer but is every much worth your time this Halloween season. 

If your your into ghost's and things that bump in the night this movie is for you!

4 Bloody Brains out of 5

Part of the Count Down to Halloween 2014.

It's Par for the Corpse

The Greenskeeper

2002 | Color | 99 Min | 1:85:1 | R | Horror| 2.0 | Ghostman on third productions

Source: VHS

Directors:
Kevin Greene

Writers:
Kevin Greene

Stars:

Allelon Ruggiero

Bruce Taylor

Ron Lester

Johnny Rocker

Melissa Ponzio

When someone starts using the business end of a pair of hedge clippers on the more snobbish patrons of a posh country club, rumors fly the slice-n'-dice handiwork is the signature of The Greenskeeper, a serial killer long thought dead from an explosion years ago.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1980 film)

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
1980 | Color | 104 Min | 1:33:1 | G | Comedy | Mono | NBC
Directed by Henning Scheller

Cast:
Jeff Goldblum as Ichabod Crane

Paul Sand as Frederic Dutcher

Meg Foster as Katrina Van Tassel

Laura Campbell as Thelma Dumkey

Dick Butkus as Brom Bones

A TV adaptation of Washington Irving's classic ghost story. Jeff Goldblum is a nerdish Ichabod Crane that supplies the show with its lite hearted comedic edge, Dick Butkus is appropriately nasty Brom Bones, and Meg Foster as spirited Katrina van Tassel. Angered that Katrina has grown fond of schoolmaster Crane, Brom Bones determines to scare off the interloper by filling his head with spooky tales of a Headless Horseman. Crane pooh-poohs the legends, until one fateful ride home in the dark of night.

I picked up this VHS (yes I still have a working VCR) for a very low price. I never heard of this version so I felt it was a no-brainer. What an amazing and fun way to watch a classic tale. Steering clear of the traditional story you get that look and feel of an after-school special. I was immediately drawn into this movie's atmosphere. And the stellar cast was a hoot. Goldblum and Butkus are fantastic together. The comedy is not over the top and the ghost story behind it all is very tame and family-friendly.

Why is this movie not on DVD or shown on TV today? It holds up well to the test of time. And I would really love to see the television broadcast from that Halloween Night back in 1980 hosted by Steve Allen and Gary Coleman who performed skits at the commercial breaks. If you can find this little spooky gem I say pick it up, pop some corn and watch it this holiday season.

The VHS is going for anywhere around $5.00 to $40.00! And to think I picked this up for a wild 10 cents. Personally, I will be pulling this out for years to come around Halloween.

Make sure to check out the other blogger's counting down to Halloween at www.countdowntohalloween.com.

4 Bloody Brains out of 5

*Full Movie is on YouTube for those of you with a Roku or Apple TV. Or the Patience to sit at your computer and watch it.