'60s kids show The Banana Splits is being turned into a movie...an R-rated horror movie

Cult ’60s live-action kids show The Banana Splits, about the wacky adventures of an all-animal rock band, which is best known for its iconic, oft-covered theme song, is improbably being turned into a feature film. Even more improbable: The Banana Splits Movie is horror film with a R rating due to “horror, violence, and gore.” In this alternate movie reality, The Banana Splits is still on the air but when the network tries to cancel the show, Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky go on a murderous, blood-soaked rampage. Unfortunately the studio audience includes a cute kid who is celebrating his birthday with his family. Will they escape?

The original Banana Splits was a joint production between TV animation giants Hanna-Barbera and Sid & Marty Krofft who made such psychedelic kids shows as H.R. Pufnstuf and Lidsville. and ran from 1968 to 1970. This doesn’t really sound like a good idea for a horror film, and the trailer doesn’t change my mind, but the intended audience for this probably doesn’t remember the original so they hopefully won’t feel like their happy childhood memories have been turned into nightmare fuel. But it begs the question: just who is this movie for? The Banana Splits Movie premieres on SyFy later this year with a more graphic version coming to Blu-ray and digital. Watch the trailer, as well as the original show’s opening theme song and covers of the theme song by The Dickies and Liz Phair & Material Issue, below.