The overall idea behind an interactive film is great and it was a good attempt. However, the film kept taking you back to the same options over and over again until you chose the one you hadn't seen yet. So, for me it was dessesperating and I felt like it didn't actually give me much of a choice, if I dint chose what I was "supposed" to, then the film would keep looping. Maybe that's the point but I'm just not a fan, I had bigger hopes for an interactive film.
1,040 Reviews
Who is there?
a_mind_astray29 December 2018
The graphics and music were great, and the transition was smooth at the "crossroads". But the story... It didn't feel like much of a story, and then I felt pushed into making choices that I did not want to make. I think it captured the choose-your-own-path game feeling, but to me that didn't really feel right in a movie, everything felt too simple and a bit too forced. It's great that Black Mirror wanted to do something innovative, which this truly is, but because it is Black Mirror all the endings feel wrong. In a game like this, you play for the best outcome, but here, you just play to see what else you can get.
Good concept, mediocre movie, poor choices.
gabrielgiurca-39-5005481 January 2019
Bandersnatch is not a new experience by any means, although it is new for Netflix. There have been games like this for many years. However, for this particular title the choices are rather uninteresting and there isn't really a "choice" when you are choosing between very close actions. Basically whatever you chose gets you to similar points so not really a choice based ending.
I don't think the choices were very wise chosen and overall the plot of the movie was not very great. I mean it's interesting but nothing new or groundbreaking compared to other episodes from Black Mirror, that is, mind you, a darn good TV show.
I think an interactive movie based on Juniper City or Metalheads episodes would've turned much much better. There is also some sort of disparity between what you chose, what the character does in the movie and what happens in the scene. Meaning that somehow you choose what the other characters are doing with your choices instead of the main character, and that's also a bit confusing and a bit of a drag for me.
So overall I recommend this title for it's novelty, but not so much for the script and general idea. Worth your time though, just for the sake of it.
String Theory/Parallel Universes
drm264229 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Reading reviews on here I'm noticing two trends. People are either blown away and praising "Bandersnatch" because it is new and different, or they hate it because they think it is boring and doesn't really give them actual choices. For the later this is somewhat true, but there is are symbolic reasons for the character getting a do over every time the viewer 'kills' him. I'm curious what would happen if instead of picking a 'bad' choice, I picked the good one first. I would imagine some of these 'good' choices would create a similar loop, which is kind of the point. I also want to note that I've only watched the episode/movie/entertainment event once. So if I'm missing a few things, apologizes.
I think a lot of people are missing the point of this episode. It's not about the game Stephan is making. Nor is it about the choose your own adventure style that the episode presents to the viewer. This episode is about parallel universes and string theory. Particularly the aspect of string theory which theorizes that there are an infinite amount of parallel universes where EVERY possible outcome to EVERY choice we make exists. This is why after the first 'reset' (the one where you decide to work at the company instead of working from home) Colin suddenly has read the book Bandersnatch, where as the first time through he says he has not.
Other evidence that points to this are all the Easter Eggs in the episode. The dogs from "Metalhead" or even the symbol that Stephan keeps seeing (this was the tattoo/symbol from "White Bear"), are examples of parallel worlds bleeding through.
The best evidence of this though is close to the end of "Bandersnatch". When Stephan goes to retrieve his rabbit from dads special safe, if you choose to put the code PAC in instead of TOY you get two very different outcomes. PAC makes it so dad is really a government agent studying Stephan. Everything in his life is false, even the memory of his mother leaving, which is shown to be an elaborate set up with an actress pretending to be his mother. TOY on the other hand makes it so you have to option to go back in time and place the toy under the bed after dad takes it away. This will ensure it to be there when mom comes to get Stephan for the train. Now think about this for a moment. In one instance mom is a plant and Stephan's life is a lie. In the other instance his mother is real and as far as we can tell dad is certainly NOT a government agent. Which is real? Both. Because with parallel universes there are an infinite amount of universes with an infinite amount of Stephans leading every possible life they can. In some Stephan's mother is alive and dad is dead. In some both parents are alive, while in others both are dead, etc. Every possible outcome is out there.
For some reason Stephan is in touch with these other versions of himself. I believe it has something to do with his intimate understanding of the book "Bandersnatch" and his transference of the book into the video game. This is allowing him to see and in some cases interact with other realities, but keep in mind these are other realities not his own. If you choose to have Stephan jump off the building while on LSD for example, yes the loop resets and you, the viewer, start over, but the Stephan in that reality is dead. The story continues with a Stephan in another reality who did not make that choice.
This episode is a lot to take in, so I can see why some people don't like it as much as others. My suggestion would be to go back and try it again. Make some different choices.
A new experience, but that's about it
Rediith28 December 2018
It never occurred to me that something like this would someday be tried. Kudos to Netflix for trying to push the boundaries of what is possible through this medium. That said, the whole thing felt like a game. A fascinating game because of the novelty, but I felt none of what usually a good film would elicit. Yes, there was a lot of anticipation of what would happen next, but overall, due to the frequent pauses to choose, there was no continuity or involvement in the story per se. Some of the choices too felt pretty childish. The idea that the character was actually feeling like he had no free will and felt compelled to do things as though someone (the viewer) was controlling him - well, it brings a smile the first time, but later, feels like something that perhaps a smoked-up teen would find mind boggling. Overall, yes, definitely something that people would be thrilled to watch and try, but I sincerely hope we do not have a lot of this type of interactive films - at least not at the expense of "normal" films.
Is it really under your control?
ahmetkozan28 December 2018
Bandersnatch feels like something completely new. It was an awesome experience. You are the factor that can alter character's story for better or worse. Even the supporting characters are influenced by the decisions you make. There's a different end for everyone depending on your choices. Netflix says that there are 5 "main endings" with multiple variants of each. When you watch it again after watching, it makes you feel like you're watching a different movie. Netflix has found a way to make it a deeply personal experience. You feel responsible for the character's choices. It's really fun to have the options in the hands of the audience. And for a first attempt, Netflix succeeds. You should watch it. - I saw people who couldn't get the message the movie wanted to give. I recommend that they watch carefully. 9/10
Nice idea, but that's about it
Leofwine_draca1 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Although I don't watch BLACK MIRROR, as I'm no fan of Charlie Brooker, I had to check out the Netflix-produced BANDERSNATCH, a stand-alone movie. The reason? It's the first fully interactive "choose your own adventure" production, and I've been a fan of the genre - albeit in book format - since the 1980s with the likes of the FIGHTING FANTASY series et al.
This film starts off wonderfully, with an intriguing situation and a great bit of self-referencing in the '80s setting. I had a Spectrum myself, coincidentally enough, so I was lapping all this up. However, after about an hour of playing, things begin to lose their lustre. The viewer finds themself trapped in a loop, trying to figure out how to progress even a short way onwards, and the lack of a real story becomes apparent. The story flirts with interesting themes and concepts, and Will Poulter is typically fantastic, but in the end it feels more than a little repetitive and you just want it to finish, although it never really does.
This film starts off wonderfully, with an intriguing situation and a great bit of self-referencing in the '80s setting. I had a Spectrum myself, coincidentally enough, so I was lapping all this up. However, after about an hour of playing, things begin to lose their lustre. The viewer finds themself trapped in a loop, trying to figure out how to progress even a short way onwards, and the lack of a real story becomes apparent. The story flirts with interesting themes and concepts, and Will Poulter is typically fantastic, but in the end it feels more than a little repetitive and you just want it to finish, although it never really does.
Some people are missing the point
JRPTeagle4 March 2019
The fact that the film pushes you in to a specific path is the entire point of the film!
The idea that we are all brainwashed and that free will is up for debate in any choice we make in today's society is, by its very purpose, the whole concept of the film.
I thought is was a brilliant new step in film making and an incredible concept. Would highly recommend to any open-minded individual with good taste in film and a love for science fiction and 80's vibes.
The idea that we are all brainwashed and that free will is up for debate in any choice we make in today's society is, by its very purpose, the whole concept of the film.
I thought is was a brilliant new step in film making and an incredible concept. Would highly recommend to any open-minded individual with good taste in film and a love for science fiction and 80's vibes.
Usually love Black Mirror
drkarenholmes-kh28 December 2018
Interesting story but too repetitive.
deloudelouvain11 January 2021
I can't say I'm a big fan of this movie. The idea was there, I'll give them that, but the execution of the plot wasn't on top. It's just much too repetitive and that becomes boring after awhile. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch has a normal running time but it just feels like a neverending movie due to those repetitive scenes. I was interested in the story for almost the entire movie but still it just felt short in the end. Fionn Whitehead wasn't bad and neither was the rest of the cast so that wasn't really an issue. I have no doubts there will be fans for this movie, I'm just not one of them.
Black Mirror on Crack
zack_gideon28 December 2018
This is groundbreaking. Can't really get a grasp on it. Who ever wrote this mapping is a genius. This is the future and Netflix owns it. Need to watch it again and choose sugar puffs instead of frosties. This is like a video game but a movie and makes u wonder so many things on the user pathway.
Mind blow! Netflix treading into new waters. I wonder what I missed by making the wrong decisions or right ones. There must be so many different endings....or not. I won't tell you mine. Fun ride! Want more of these. Maybe for a horror film?
Mind blow! Netflix treading into new waters. I wonder what I missed by making the wrong decisions or right ones. There must be so many different endings....or not. I won't tell you mine. Fun ride! Want more of these. Maybe for a horror film?
Bandersnatch ... or BLANDERsnatch?
randalrauser29 December 2018
I'm a big Black Mirror fan, that sophisticated dystopian British/Netflix series that explores the darker side of technology. So when I heard less than a week ago that Netflix was releasing a new full-length movie installment into the Black Mirror universe on December 28th, I gasped, "It's a Christmas miracle!"
And when I learned that this new movie, set in 1984 and centered on a young video game designer writing the code for a new video game called Bandersnatch, would immerse the audience in the story by allowing each viewer to choose how the story unfolds for them, I was cautiously optimistic. After all, The Cave of Time was one of my favorite books as a child. Indeed, for a couple of years in the early 1980s I lived on a steady literary diet of Choose Your Own Adventure books (here is a great boxed set for your favorite 9-12 year olds ... or nostalgic forty-somethings).
So last night, I sat down to watch (is that the right word?) Bandersnatch.
The choices begin early on when we are asked to choose which cereal our hero, Stefan, will have for breakfast. Fortunately, from there the choices increase in gravitas as the program unfolds.
One thing is clear: Bandersnatch is essential viewing for anyone remotely interested in Black Mirror ... or anyone with a Netflix account and an hour or two to spare. (Depending on your choices the program varies significantly in length.)
But here's my major frustration: if the show doesn't like your choice, it eventually steers you back to the main storyline. Personally, it felt a bit like getting your knuckles rapped and as the story begins to unfold again, you realize that you have rather less control than you'd been led to believe. After about 1 1/2 hours, I found myself growing increasingly impatient. Along the way, I'd been offered a couple of opportunities to bow out to the end credits, but I wanted to persist to the real end. However, eventually, I realized that my interest in completing this dark story had been outweighed by my desire to do something else, and so finally I bowed out.
It was at that point that I thought back to the video game Dragon's Lair. When it came to the arcade in 1983, we were dazzled by the animation.
But soon, the novelty wore off as we, or at least I, realized the playability was low. Put simply, there wasn't much fun in learning how to link a series of animation sequences and calling it a game.
For all its innovation, I have the same feeling about Bandersnatch. There simply isn't much fun in learning how to link a series of dramatic sequences and calling it a movie.
And when I learned that this new movie, set in 1984 and centered on a young video game designer writing the code for a new video game called Bandersnatch, would immerse the audience in the story by allowing each viewer to choose how the story unfolds for them, I was cautiously optimistic. After all, The Cave of Time was one of my favorite books as a child. Indeed, for a couple of years in the early 1980s I lived on a steady literary diet of Choose Your Own Adventure books (here is a great boxed set for your favorite 9-12 year olds ... or nostalgic forty-somethings).
So last night, I sat down to watch (is that the right word?) Bandersnatch.
The choices begin early on when we are asked to choose which cereal our hero, Stefan, will have for breakfast. Fortunately, from there the choices increase in gravitas as the program unfolds.
One thing is clear: Bandersnatch is essential viewing for anyone remotely interested in Black Mirror ... or anyone with a Netflix account and an hour or two to spare. (Depending on your choices the program varies significantly in length.)
But here's my major frustration: if the show doesn't like your choice, it eventually steers you back to the main storyline. Personally, it felt a bit like getting your knuckles rapped and as the story begins to unfold again, you realize that you have rather less control than you'd been led to believe. After about 1 1/2 hours, I found myself growing increasingly impatient. Along the way, I'd been offered a couple of opportunities to bow out to the end credits, but I wanted to persist to the real end. However, eventually, I realized that my interest in completing this dark story had been outweighed by my desire to do something else, and so finally I bowed out.
It was at that point that I thought back to the video game Dragon's Lair. When it came to the arcade in 1983, we were dazzled by the animation.
But soon, the novelty wore off as we, or at least I, realized the playability was low. Put simply, there wasn't much fun in learning how to link a series of animation sequences and calling it a game.
For all its innovation, I have the same feeling about Bandersnatch. There simply isn't much fun in learning how to link a series of dramatic sequences and calling it a movie.
I am one of the few whose mind was not blown away...
gcarpiceci29 December 2018
So, I am going against the main stream here (can't remember the number of reviews mentioning "mind blowing"....)
I thought the base concept of Bandersnatch was pretty original and the execution extremely ambitious; the main problem I had with it was that the executional device (the interactivity) ended up hijacking the story in so far that I was more carried away by the choices I had to make than by the flow of the story itself.
The way the plot is constructed is like a glass maze, where you keep wandering around and after a while you realise you are where you were a few minutes before; so, in the same way, I found myself watching several times the same sequence and, in all honesty, after 3-4 times, it started being a little repetitive.
In reality, this is more of a videogame where you want to "win" by making the choices that brings you to the next ending, and this took away the sheer pleasure of watching a story.
But in the end, the deadly sin of Bandersnatch is that the story is not that interesting, so the idea of watching it in loop (all of it or just parts of it) was not really motivating.
Sorry, it did not blow my mind away...
The illusion of choice; a deeper concept
daliadiary-2724512 August 2022
Black Mirror introduces philosophical concepts from a dystopian point of view. The general theme of most of the episodes is about the main characters making certain choices whithin the bizarre black mirror universe. And as a viewer you become a witness to the consequences of said choices.
Black Mirror - Bandersnatch is basically another episode of black mirror but with the concept of making the viewer an accomplice to the choices as well as the consequences that goes with it.
And just like the episodes of Black Mirror, it's from a dystopian point of view, where 'the concept of choice' is insignificant and doesn't really matter. It introduces the idea of 'the illusion of choice'. As a viewer you think you're in control, but in fact, you're just like one of the characters, who's being controlled; by a construct, literally and methaphorically. And if you're a stubborn viewer like me, you'll most likely Rewatch the movie in a hopeless effort to make different choices with different outcomes; in order to "win", or perhaps to just "be in control". Regardless, you'll end up being just another character in a dystopian story loop. That in itself gives the movie a deeper meaning and that is what makes this a genius concept. 9/10.
Black Mirror - Bandersnatch is basically another episode of black mirror but with the concept of making the viewer an accomplice to the choices as well as the consequences that goes with it.
And just like the episodes of Black Mirror, it's from a dystopian point of view, where 'the concept of choice' is insignificant and doesn't really matter. It introduces the idea of 'the illusion of choice'. As a viewer you think you're in control, but in fact, you're just like one of the characters, who's being controlled; by a construct, literally and methaphorically. And if you're a stubborn viewer like me, you'll most likely Rewatch the movie in a hopeless effort to make different choices with different outcomes; in order to "win", or perhaps to just "be in control". Regardless, you'll end up being just another character in a dystopian story loop. That in itself gives the movie a deeper meaning and that is what makes this a genius concept. 9/10.
At least they tried something new...
kevinkaiser-9521328 December 2018
This is not innovative and new. I see that Black Mirror producer understood that they can't do the same stuff over and over again only in a different package (One whole season too late btw.) but this is not something groundbreaking? We've seen it before in Tell Tale Games like Life is Strange or Until Dawn and the Butterfly Effect idea is not staged in a fresh way.
I enjoyed the time of this interactive movie but in the end it left me kind of indifferent without really caring for the characters.
And i really believe that this momentum of selfreflection where the viewer should be ashamed of the voyouristic controlling of the story could have been presented in a more darker and harder hitting way.
Am I The Only One Who Understood This Movie?!
gerimease5 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
There are so many bad reviews here that say "We kept looping back to "x" point in the movie until we made a different choice..." and for that reason they found it boring, and lengthy, etc. This was not about having the novelty of an interactive movie. That was not the point at all.
The point is that Stefan references so many times that he feels that he is being controlled by some force (which is us). But, all the looping and replaying of scenes if we don't choose certain options is what the movie point is about. We, like Stefan are being controlled. If we do not make the correct choices, we are brought back until we do. We are controlled. Maybe it's Pax, maybe it's not. We are supposed to feel the helplessness that Stefan felt at being controlled by our choices. Now our choices were taken.
I can't believe how many 1 star reviews there are because people simply didn't understand this point of the movie. I actually found it quite clever and when I got it, I smiled. The movie itself isn't the best, but I give it a 9 out of 10 based on the cleverness of it all.
Don't go by the 1 star reviews. See it for yourself and don't get wrapped up in the fact that you can make interactive choices in the movie. That wasn't the point at all.
The point is that Stefan references so many times that he feels that he is being controlled by some force (which is us). But, all the looping and replaying of scenes if we don't choose certain options is what the movie point is about. We, like Stefan are being controlled. If we do not make the correct choices, we are brought back until we do. We are controlled. Maybe it's Pax, maybe it's not. We are supposed to feel the helplessness that Stefan felt at being controlled by our choices. Now our choices were taken.
I can't believe how many 1 star reviews there are because people simply didn't understand this point of the movie. I actually found it quite clever and when I got it, I smiled. The movie itself isn't the best, but I give it a 9 out of 10 based on the cleverness of it all.
Don't go by the 1 star reviews. See it for yourself and don't get wrapped up in the fact that you can make interactive choices in the movie. That wasn't the point at all.
100x more fake reviews than possible endings
Top_Dawg_Critic30 December 2018
I guess some props to Netflix for trying something different, but I expected more. The "interactive" gimmicky portions seemed great at first, but then became annoying when you make the wrong choice and are looped back to previous scenes, thus having wasted your time and start losing interest in this film, and thus making this not "fully" interactive, as you are pushed towards a choice. Half way through we just wanted to get to an ending - any ending. I'm not sure exactly how many different endings there are, but I hope it's much less than the useless loops that took me well into 2+ hours (of a supposedly 90 min film) of relentless re-run scenes. This film is more of a video game, and if I wanted to play a video game, I'd boot up my Xbox or PS and use a proper game controller, not a mouse on a computer screen. After the bad taste of the loops goes away, I will try to re-watch this film without the interactive portions (available only via my computers web browser and mouse clicks) and see it thru my Fire Stick (oddly, interactive options not available) to see what Charlie Brooker decided this story should simply be. Aside from the interactive portions, directing was on point and the acting adequate. Clearly I wont be commenting on the editing lol. Shocked at all the fake high reviews, it really kills the brand when it has to come to that. A 6/10 from me, mainly for Netflix's ingenuity.
I think some here are completely missing the point
cjb_smith5 January 2019
It's very clever and very dark (but then Black Mirror always is). I do agree it's a bit prententious in places. Having now watched all of the 5 endings, and not without some exasperation, and yes repetition, the penny dropped that Bandersnatch is all about choices and the choices you think are under your control. The outcome is pretty bad no matter how you choose because the ultimate destiny is not in your hands. Choices in life are not always good versus bad. It asks more questions than it answers and while that might not be satisfactory to some, that's the whole point.
Black Mirror Bandersnatch: Mixed bag
Platypuschow4 January 2019
As I write this I'm hugely torn, Bandersnatch is a wildly unique experience yet is a mixed bag of genius and unrivaled stupidity.
A Netflix original interactive movie Bandersnatch tells the tale of a video game programmer and his gradual mental deterioration.
First of all let me say I adore interactive movies when they're in video game form, from the Tell Tale epics to Heavy Rain (2010) and Beyond Two Souls (2013). The concept really suits me and opens up new doors within the entertainment industry so I'm surprised that this isn't done more often.
Sadly if you think this is the start of something on Netflix then think again, the interactivity gimmick is part of the entire thing. I can't say more without going into spoiler territory but it's a real shame that it won't proceed from here.
The interactivity within Bandersnatch is at a decent frequency, not too much and not too little. The problem is that ultimately your decisions don't mean anything, at all. If you're expecting multiple story arcs you'll be sorely disappointed.
Which poses new questions, such as why create such a movie with this gimmick if they aren't going to fully utilize it? They had an opportunity here to do something really special and the thoroughly blew it.
When you take a step back however and don't focus on the interactive element what you'll find is an interesting enough feature. Starring Will Poulter it looks the part, has a solid 80's feel and soundtrack and was a great trip down memory lane for a person of my generation.
Reminding me oddly of The Butterfly Effect (2004) I have to say that the movie (Taking away the interactive element) isn't the most engaging tale but certainly comes together in the end and delivered what I would consider a freight train of a finale. I'm not going through it again to see if there are alternate endings, but based on what happens throughout and how ultimately choices are meaningless I'd be surprised if there is more than 1 additional.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is potential wasted and a grand scale.
The Good:
Some great writing
Very nostalgic
Solid 80's soundtrack
Incredible finale
The Bad:
Gets very repetitive
The decision based gameplay is ultimately pointless
A Netflix original interactive movie Bandersnatch tells the tale of a video game programmer and his gradual mental deterioration.
First of all let me say I adore interactive movies when they're in video game form, from the Tell Tale epics to Heavy Rain (2010) and Beyond Two Souls (2013). The concept really suits me and opens up new doors within the entertainment industry so I'm surprised that this isn't done more often.
Sadly if you think this is the start of something on Netflix then think again, the interactivity gimmick is part of the entire thing. I can't say more without going into spoiler territory but it's a real shame that it won't proceed from here.
The interactivity within Bandersnatch is at a decent frequency, not too much and not too little. The problem is that ultimately your decisions don't mean anything, at all. If you're expecting multiple story arcs you'll be sorely disappointed.
Which poses new questions, such as why create such a movie with this gimmick if they aren't going to fully utilize it? They had an opportunity here to do something really special and the thoroughly blew it.
When you take a step back however and don't focus on the interactive element what you'll find is an interesting enough feature. Starring Will Poulter it looks the part, has a solid 80's feel and soundtrack and was a great trip down memory lane for a person of my generation.
Reminding me oddly of The Butterfly Effect (2004) I have to say that the movie (Taking away the interactive element) isn't the most engaging tale but certainly comes together in the end and delivered what I would consider a freight train of a finale. I'm not going through it again to see if there are alternate endings, but based on what happens throughout and how ultimately choices are meaningless I'd be surprised if there is more than 1 additional.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is potential wasted and a grand scale.
The Good:
Some great writing
Very nostalgic
Solid 80's soundtrack
Incredible finale
The Bad:
Gets very repetitive
The decision based gameplay is ultimately pointless
Ultimately Unsatisfying & Messy
zkonedog7 January 2019
I consider "Black Mirror" to be the best anthology series since Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone". That's how highly I regard the show. Unfortunately, when it comes to the choose-your-own-adventure interactive "Bandersnatch", I left the experience wishing a "normal" episode or film had been released instead of this experiment.
For a basic plot summary, "Bandersnatch" tells the story of Stefan (Fionn Whitehead), a computer programmer in the 1980s who is working on a path-choosing game at the same company as his idol (and fellow master programmer) Colin (Will Poulter). While creating the game, Stefan becomes convinced that someone else is controlling his actions, much like the characters he himself is creating.
With such a unique concept as "Bandersnatch"--letting the viewer choose certain decisions for the characters--both the plot and convention must be evaluated. In this case, however, it is difficult to untangle one from the other, as the filmmakers intentionally break the fourth wall on numerous occasions. In other words, it is impossible to separate "the plot" from "the choices".
Though there were a few things that "Bandersnatch" did which intrigued me (mostly located in the first 20-30 minutes of the experience, the poor star rating ultimately came down to this for me: with every "wrong" ending I took--thus having to go back and try again--I felt a bit more removed from the overall story and thus my stake in the characters. To be honest, it is almost the exact same emotion I experienced while reading choose-your-own-adventure books as a child. They were fun for awhile, but after a time I became fatigued by the back-and-forth and wanted to get back to more traditional storytelling techniques.
This is to say nothing that with every back-track, I felt like I was continually being taken out of the plot and having to remember what was happening. This worked for about the first half hour or so, but after that it got really messy for my viewing experience.
So, while I have to give "Black Mirror" at least some credit for putting a new idea out there for people to experiment with, at the end of the day I wished I would have had more of their standard episodes instead. To be completely honest, I don't think that this type of choice-based content watching will ever be more than a fad or gimmick, although of course that remains to be seen.
For this viewer, however, I prefer to be able to relax and enjoy one story carefully crafted by a team of filmmakers. Adding in audience participation just makes things really, really messy when all is said and done.
For a basic plot summary, "Bandersnatch" tells the story of Stefan (Fionn Whitehead), a computer programmer in the 1980s who is working on a path-choosing game at the same company as his idol (and fellow master programmer) Colin (Will Poulter). While creating the game, Stefan becomes convinced that someone else is controlling his actions, much like the characters he himself is creating.
With such a unique concept as "Bandersnatch"--letting the viewer choose certain decisions for the characters--both the plot and convention must be evaluated. In this case, however, it is difficult to untangle one from the other, as the filmmakers intentionally break the fourth wall on numerous occasions. In other words, it is impossible to separate "the plot" from "the choices".
Though there were a few things that "Bandersnatch" did which intrigued me (mostly located in the first 20-30 minutes of the experience, the poor star rating ultimately came down to this for me: with every "wrong" ending I took--thus having to go back and try again--I felt a bit more removed from the overall story and thus my stake in the characters. To be honest, it is almost the exact same emotion I experienced while reading choose-your-own-adventure books as a child. They were fun for awhile, but after a time I became fatigued by the back-and-forth and wanted to get back to more traditional storytelling techniques.
This is to say nothing that with every back-track, I felt like I was continually being taken out of the plot and having to remember what was happening. This worked for about the first half hour or so, but after that it got really messy for my viewing experience.
So, while I have to give "Black Mirror" at least some credit for putting a new idea out there for people to experiment with, at the end of the day I wished I would have had more of their standard episodes instead. To be completely honest, I don't think that this type of choice-based content watching will ever be more than a fad or gimmick, although of course that remains to be seen.
For this viewer, however, I prefer to be able to relax and enjoy one story carefully crafted by a team of filmmakers. Adding in audience participation just makes things really, really messy when all is said and done.
"I should try again."
classicsoncall28 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
'Bandersnatch' has as interesting and compelling premise for a TV movie as it creates an interactive experience for the viewer. It surprised me when the first option showed up; it's as if I didn't know what I should do so I let the show itself make the selection. Turns out that even though there are a number of finite selections one could make, the order in which they're made can result in an interminable loop. I can honestly say that if you happen to doze off while watching, it wouldn't make much difference because you'll come back on a scenario that you might have already seen but with a different outcome. As the protagonist, programmer Stefan Butler (Fionn Whitehead) is forced to confront the possibility that he's living multiple realities, that free will is an illusion, and that his fate is out of his own hands. You could say that with the film's many possibilities, the story itself goes everywhere and nowhere. In that respect it may be a frustrating experience for the average viewer, and since time is a precious commodity, I'm personally not inclined to go back to the picture to explore it's alternate options.
For fans of the Black Mirror series, writer Charlie Brooker treats the viewer to an Easter egg basket of references to early episodes of the show. I was able to pick up on three of them but there could have been more. The opener of the third season was titled 'Nosedive', the same name but with a different spelling for the computer game Colin Ritman (Will Poulter) was developing. Then there's the fourth season show called 'Metalhead', which appeared repeatedly in the story as a poster (again, with a different spelling) in Stefan's bedroom. And finally, there's the second episode of season three that most closely resembled this one called 'Playtest'. It deals with a character experiencing a virtual reality world, and the mastery of the writing effectively disorients the viewer into thinking that certain aspects of the story have concluded and then you're right back into the virtual reality world once again, never having left. It's the kind of stuff Black Mirror does best, that is, by exploring the advantages and disadvantages of potential advances in technology, and how some of them can go absolutely haywire.
For fans of the Black Mirror series, writer Charlie Brooker treats the viewer to an Easter egg basket of references to early episodes of the show. I was able to pick up on three of them but there could have been more. The opener of the third season was titled 'Nosedive', the same name but with a different spelling for the computer game Colin Ritman (Will Poulter) was developing. Then there's the fourth season show called 'Metalhead', which appeared repeatedly in the story as a poster (again, with a different spelling) in Stefan's bedroom. And finally, there's the second episode of season three that most closely resembled this one called 'Playtest'. It deals with a character experiencing a virtual reality world, and the mastery of the writing effectively disorients the viewer into thinking that certain aspects of the story have concluded and then you're right back into the virtual reality world once again, never having left. It's the kind of stuff Black Mirror does best, that is, by exploring the advantages and disadvantages of potential advances in technology, and how some of them can go absolutely haywire.
Some neat ideas, but ultimately unsatisfying!
mjw230529 June 2020
I watched this before seeing any of the black mirror series. I was intrigued by the concept and had heard great things regarding Black Mirror.
I enjoyed the wierdness and the darkness in the story, but I didn't feel that it was a particually strong one. As for the interaction with the movie, i can only say that i was dissapointed, and by the end, bored!
I get that the idea is that we, the viewers, are supposed feel that we are being controlled just as the characters are. But realising this fact as I reached the end of the movie didn't alter the fact that I was bored!
The experience actually put me off watching the Black Mirror series until very recently. Thankfully I have now watched every episode and I love it!
I can conclude that Bandersnatch is the weakest link in the Black Mirror universe in my opinion.
6/10 It's ok, little more!
I enjoyed the wierdness and the darkness in the story, but I didn't feel that it was a particually strong one. As for the interaction with the movie, i can only say that i was dissapointed, and by the end, bored!
I get that the idea is that we, the viewers, are supposed feel that we are being controlled just as the characters are. But realising this fact as I reached the end of the movie didn't alter the fact that I was bored!
The experience actually put me off watching the Black Mirror series until very recently. Thankfully I have now watched every episode and I love it!
I can conclude that Bandersnatch is the weakest link in the Black Mirror universe in my opinion.
6/10 It's ok, little more!
Oh dear
goldstones-3359228 December 2018
Could have been great but the story was so boring. Also you often don't really have a choice as you just keep getting sent in a loop until you make the "right" choice to move the film forward. Kudos to Netflix for making an attempt, but could have been so much better.
A very unique experience done surprisingly well
darapjohnson24 September 2022
I was unfortunate to watch this normally and not on Netflix where you could make the different choices so I got very confused as you could understand, but that won't change my view on this movie because I later did give it a watch on Netflix where I could pick and choose routes myself.
"Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" was a brilliantly unique movie with good acting and a confusing but fun story to boot. I didn't find myself bored the slightest throughout (even though like I said, I watched the normal version the first time). Very fun movie and I never found myself bored with this interactive movie.
"Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" was a brilliantly unique movie with good acting and a confusing but fun story to boot. I didn't find myself bored the slightest throughout (even though like I said, I watched the normal version the first time). Very fun movie and I never found myself bored with this interactive movie.
An interactive film about why you can't make interactive films
yuval-shafir25 June 2022
A movie about the struggles involved in the creative process, both technical and personal, and the problems artists face when expected to deliver something personal and profound with intense public scrutiny, on a constricted schedule, while simultaneously having to deal with their own personal relationships.
I actually didn't write this myself, this is a description from the Wikipedia article about Fellini's prominent movie 8½.
This film takes the public pressure on the write a huge leap further - he's actually not only pressed by some vague 'public' but literally controlled - by you, the viewer. Or maybe not? The film shows how hard it is to tell, and the process of going back and forth in time trying to remake the plot and improve the result is similar to what is happening in the creators mind.
So far so good, a very interesting idea. And of course it would be unfair to compare almost any movie to the rich ingenius and amazing experience of watching Fellini's 8½. So just as a film I watched without such expectations our of curiosity, beside the idea it is a minimalist, dark, moderately interesting film, with a pessimistic feeling that matches the series. Not a highly entertaining experience, but interesting as a pioneering experiment.
I actually didn't write this myself, this is a description from the Wikipedia article about Fellini's prominent movie 8½.
This film takes the public pressure on the write a huge leap further - he's actually not only pressed by some vague 'public' but literally controlled - by you, the viewer. Or maybe not? The film shows how hard it is to tell, and the process of going back and forth in time trying to remake the plot and improve the result is similar to what is happening in the creators mind.
So far so good, a very interesting idea. And of course it would be unfair to compare almost any movie to the rich ingenius and amazing experience of watching Fellini's 8½. So just as a film I watched without such expectations our of curiosity, beside the idea it is a minimalist, dark, moderately interesting film, with a pessimistic feeling that matches the series. Not a highly entertaining experience, but interesting as a pioneering experiment.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
