The Banana Splits Movie (Dir. Danishka Esterhazy)
Release Date: 18 July 2019
Run time: 89 minutes
Origin: USA
Mimi's Rating: 3 1/2 giant lollipops out of 5
When the mascot characters of a popular children's television show learn of the show's cancellation, they begin wreak havoc during a live taping.
The first in this collection of crazed-animatronic-films, it just might be the best. Playing out as a slasher movie, it's the most effective of the three at being an actual horror movie while still keeping everything high-energy and fun. The deaths are plentiful, creative, and best of all they're done practically. Also, voice actor Eric Bauza did a great job bringing the Banana Splits to life. The voices were perfectly cartoony and fit the tone perfectly.
Give it a watch if you want to see a great animatronic splatter-fest.
Willy's Wonderland (Dir. Kevin Lewis)
Release Date: 12 Feb 2021
Run Time: 88 minutes
Origin: USA
Mimi's Rating: 3 energy drinks out of 5
A quiet drifter (Nicolas Cage) is tricked into cleaning an abandoned family fun center. He soon finds himself in a fight for his life against the possessed animatronics that dwell in Willy's Wonderland.
I don't know if this movie would work with any other other actor. Nic Cage manages to be hilarious without saying a single word and this movie leans way more into the comedy than the horror. Nic's drifter character revels in the violence he deals with these animatronic monstrosities and it's a pleasure to watch. The side characters have their moments as well, mostly in fitting the "idiots in a horror movie" trope and padding out the kills.
The movie has style also, lots of bright colours, the camera work is lively during the action, the blood is flying, and the synth-heavy score ties it all together. The unique designs of the different animatronics were also appreciated.
Check it out if you want to see Nic Cage kick some ass.
Five Nights at Freddy's (Dir. Emma Tammi)
Release Date: 25 Oct 2023
Run Time: 109 minutes
Origin: USA
Mimi's Rating: 1 1/2 jump scares out of 5
Mike (Josh Hutcherson) is a young man who is desperate for a job. When he agrees to work as night security at the abandoned Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria he soon discover that things at Freddy's aren't what they seem.
The last entry in our trilogy is the most dull. The plot involving our main characters takes itself way too seriously. Did this movie about killer animatronics need to be an exploration of a young man's trauma? Can't we just embrace the silliness of the premise? Where's the fun?
Some have said this would be a good intro to horror for the younger folk, but I think I would have fallen asleep watching this as a kid. The pace was way off (how many times did we need to see that dream sequence?).
The animatronics effects we're fine (I liked one kill in particular but I won't spoil it here). Some of the dialogue was laugh-out-loud bad and in all the acting ranged from serviceable to bad.
I'm sure diehard fans would get a lot more from it than I did.
