Bandersnatch: What happened when we watched Netflix's Black Mirror film
The interactive film offers viewers various instances of multiple choice, which can drastically change the outcome of the ending
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Your support makes all the difference.Charlie Brooker has used his Black Mirror series to address all sorts of flaws and intrigues about humanity in the technology age, but never so blatantly as in the latest instalment: Bandersnatch.
The interactive film offers viewers various instances of multiple choice, which can drastically change the outcome of the ending. It also changes the running time: some audience members may reach a conclusion in 40 minutes. For others, it could take two hours.
We decided to liveblog one writer’s experience of the episode (obvious spoilers ahead) as they decided the actions of lead character Stefan (Fionn Whitehead), who attempts to create a video game based on a fantasy novel written by an author who went mad as he was writing it.
“Bandersnatch” was referred to in an episode of Black Mirror season 3. In “Playtest”, starring Wyatt Russell, the front cover of Edge magazine indicates that there is a review of “Bandersnatch” inside. In the scene, Sonja uses the magazine to encourage Cooper to take a mysterious job with video game company SaitoGemu.
(Spoilers ahead)
The episode opens with Stefan at home with his father, a widow, offering him a choice of breakfast cereal (the first decision the user is faced with). From there, he travels to an interview with a games company so he can pitch his idea for a game adaptation of the multiple choice novel, "Bandersnatch", which was written by a man who descended into madness as he completed it.
At the office, he is introduced to Colin Ritman (Coulter), Stefan's hero, and a man with whom you can have either a lot or barely any interaction with, depending on the choices you make. Throughout the film there are loops that guide you back to the correct narrative if you stray too far, such as when Stefan is asked whether he wants to work in the office or at home, on his own. The home option is preferred as it leads to Stefan's own slow descent into madness as he becomes obsessed with completing "Bandersnatch".
As he works, he becomes more and more irritated by interruptions from his father, and trips to his therapist. You can learn during therapy (as we did in this version of the story) that his mother died in a train crash after Stefan caused her to miss an earlier train – an event that likely triggered his current mental health issues.
It transpired that we managed to jump on one of the speedier narratives for the film, which comes to a rather gory conclusion when Stefan bludgeons his father to death, but manages to complete the game. "Bandersnatch" is released to rave reviews, as a current-day news report informs us that Stefan was later arrested and charged with his father's murder.
This writer was slightly sceptical at how Netflix is managing to get viewers to watch the episode countless times to see the various endings... meaning mega streams for them. At first the interactions are fun, but the constant interruptions to the story as you're asked to make yet another decision on Stefan's behalf can become quite wearisome, and if anything it pulls you out of the story rather than allowing you to become engrossed in it.
Netflix says of the new interactive film: “There are choices to be made, challenges to overcome, dangers to encounter and, as always in life (and Black Mirror), consequences to be had. Choosing wisely could lead to triumph while taking the wrong path could end in disaster – but who’s to say what’s ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, anyway? And fret not because once one experience comes to a close, you can – and should! – go back and make a new choice, alter the path of your story and maybe even change its outcome.”
The liveblog has now closed.
Netflix also confirmed that there are “five main endings with multiple variants of each”... although fans could uncover more depending on the choices they make, allowing for a little extra mystery.
Read our review of Bandersnatch, here.
Hang on, WE'RE AT THE THERAPIST'S. I chose to go, rather than follow Colin, who was spotted outside. Turns out Stefan feels like there's a weird impulse making him do things he doesn't think he should be doing.
I picked the option for Stefan to bite his nails, but he resisted! Interesting.
Stefan was given some pills. Obviously I want him to flush them down the toilet, just to see what happens if he doesn't take them. Also, I reckon Colin was onto something with that whole "madness" comment when it comes to successfully making the video game. And it certainly looks like Stefan is on a roll.
There are some bugs with the game, so Stefan's been given an extended deadline to complete the game. Colin just gave him a documentary about the author of Bandersnatch, Jerome F Davis, to watch as he works. I'm not sure if that's going to be such a positive influence. Apparently he was taking A LOT of hallucinogenics while he tried to complete the game. He became convinced that he wasn't in control of his own fate, and thought his wife was spiking him with drugs. So he decapitated her, and later told police we exist in "multiple parallel realities" so free will is actually an illusion... absolving us of responsibility for our actions. Because fate has already been dictated. Creepy. What are you asking me to do, Netflix?
Ooh, he's refusing my orders! I asked him to throw tea over the computer. He "knows there's someone there" and wants a sign. I could tell him it's Netflix, but I decided to show him the glyph on the computer screen. Now his dad is really worried.
He did it! He hit his dad in the head with his ashtray and there is a LOT of blood. Arghhhhhhhh. Oh no, Stefan, what have you/we done?
He's finished the game! Urghhh this is so creepy. Stefan has basically removed the true free will from the player, so he's actually the one who decides the ending.
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