Black Mirror: Bandersnatch Movie Review

Story posted January 29, 2019 in CommRadio, Arts & Entertainment by Jack Grossman

Author’s Note: This movie was originally released December 28, 2018

Very few movies have given the viewer the opportunity to change the outcome of the film. “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch” provides this opportunity to those subscribed to Netflix, making the film the first of its kind on the digital streaming platform. “Bandersnatch” follows 19-year-old game developer Stefan Butler (Fionn Whitehead) as he tries to produce a video game featuring diverging pathways, while seemingly haunted by the idea of losing free will. Clocking in at about 90 minutes during the default path, depending on choices made by the viewer, “Bandersnatch” can run up to five hours. The film nestles itself quite snugly within the universe of Black Mirror.

As mentioned, the main focal point of the film is the concept of choice and free will. Featuring a wide variety of choices ranging from which cereal Stefan eats, to whether or not he murders his own father, the film allows a fresh and interesting direction during each viewing. While there are known to be only five main endings, there are said to be over 1 trillion combinations to be made from the individual choices throughout the film. Keen Black Mirror fans can also spot several references and easter eggs to previous episodes hidden (or not) during the film, making it a fun surprise for those already invested in the show.

Each pathway, while sharing the same core choices, can lead to an unpredictable and even totally different ending in contrast to the others. While the incentive to return to the beginning is present at the end, this might turn off some viewers, who may be overwhelmed with the amount of times they would have to go back. However, the sheer amount of differences in the choices they make are so impressive that it might be best to start over. Veteran actors such as Craig Parkinson and Will Poulter add very captivating performances as Stefan’s dad, Peter and Colin Ritman, respectively. Their characters both affect the story in ways the viewer could not even begin to think of, adding a new layer of mystery to see what the film has in store.

Compared to previous Black Mirror episodes, “Bandersnatch” does not leave the viewer with as much to think about, due to the choice mechanic serving as the backbone for the film. It is not as relatable to us since it takes place in the 1980s setting as compared to the present and even the future. However, “Bandersnatch” uses the interactivity very well, and could pave the way for future films on the Netflix platform to follow the same format. While not perfect and leaving a lasting impression, the film is  very interesting and very fun to watch, especially with friends.

Whichever ending the viewer may choose, there are plenty of options to enjoy. Netflix has created a special film for its platform, and hopefully, there are more films within the Black Mirror universe to follow. “Bandersnatch” proves itself to be a successful choice in pioneering Netflix interactive movies.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

 

 

Jack Grossman is a junior majoring in telecommunications. To contact him, email jackdgrossman@gmail.com.