Netflix's Bandersnatch, directed by David Slade, is a side movie from the show Black Mirror, which is also on Netflix. Its a interactive, science fiction thriller that gives the viewer the power to make decisions for the main protagonist Stefan who's a gaming programmer trying to make the next big gaming hit. He comes across a fantasy novel called "Bandersnatch", he then gets the idea of turning this twisted fantasy novel into a game. In the process of making the game weird shit starts to happen. Stefan is going through a psychological epiphany about free will and reality itself. Throughout the moive, the viewer/player is making decisions for Stefan which multiple endings are influenced by these choices. This is actually one of the big topics discussed in the movie, the simple fact that free will is a form of an illusion. As the players have control of Stefan's decisions, free will does seem like an illusion. Another thing that is discussed in the movie is the effects of making a decision.
Bascially when one decision is made another alternate universe is created. So in one world a person could wear a blue shirt but in another that shirt could be green. With the previous decision being made once again another world was created. This is called the pitch fork effect, when you have multiple decisions that have an outcome. One decision can be a outcome that effects a later part in the story. Below is the story map to the Bandersnatch movie. The movie has its original ending with alternate endings and even bonus endings. I actually got to the original with him going insane and being taken to a mental facility. Another ending that I wanted to get to was the special one that related to the movie being on Netflix. This ending broke the fourth wall by making Stefan realize that the movie is actually on a streaming service called Netflix. This movie will definitely captivate its viewers with its philosophical thinking and thoughts about gaming and reality.
Overall, I believe that movies like this should appear more in netflix and even in movie theaters. This really helps the viewer get interested in the story and want to participate more to dig deeper in the story. Honestly this might be the next thing up for movies when it comes to the viewer making the decisions. Everything that the protagonists or other characters go through are in the viewers hands. That's a hefty job because the story is effected which ever path is chosen. I would reccomend this movie to those who love interactive fiction and getting towards multiple endings. This is just a great story on the power of choice. Viewers should definitely be prepared to go on a mind trip.
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