Expectations are a difficult thing sometimes.

I went into the The Banana Splits Movie expecting something perhaps a little subversive, yet…fun.

Instead I got a horror movie–what I expected. It’s surprisingly gory at times–with only hints of the subversiveness that I was looking for.

And that’s a pity because otherwise, what’s the point?

The biggest problem is that there’s too many subplots running about, while the central conceit of the movie–children’s television show mascots go apeshit–isn’t given nearly the attention it deserves.

It’s not terrible by any stretch, just not nearly as good as it could be.

That being said, it’s still probably better than IT: Chapter 2.