Bandersnatch Movie

The Black Mirror: Bandersnatch Movie is the first interactive movie I had watched and not sure if it’s also the first one ever produced. As it introduced itself in the movie, it is an interactive online tv streaming where the audience decides for the “fate” of the of the characters. The concept of “free will” and “freedom of choice” is exploited in the movie format.

Exploited because it gives the audience that false hope that should they choose the next decision by the character, they seem to be in control hoping that the ending would be better for the character in the story.

It gives the illusion of being in control of something but the truth is, it’s the other way around. It also gives the idea of flashbacks and other good stuff that happened in the past just because, the now isn’t really something good. It is cyclical with a huge tendency to get stuck and not really moving forward.

In the movie, no matter how the audience choose the next events, the ending is the same, Stefan Butler, the maker of the game, Bandersnatch, was able to superb ratings for the game but in the end, he was imprisoned for killing his own father.

The options laid upon by the writers were only how Stefan can make the game a better game, but never really how he can get better in terms of mental state. It lead the audience to that trap of false power on something, of being in control and when they finally realize that is all fraud, it is disappointing and that could lead to a feeling of revenge and hate and anger and so much violence just like what they had seen in the movie. So disturbingly violent and hateful.

Though I am not a fan of bloody scenes and violent movies, I had grown tolerance as long as I know that the expectations of creativity are met and everything still makes sense. After all, there is also so much violence in real life.

But this one, I choose not to be part of it.