Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)

A young programmer starts to question reality when he adapts a mad writer's fantasy novel into a video game.

Director:

David Slade

Writer:

Charlie Brooker

Stars:

Fionn Whitehead, Craig Parkinson, Alice Lowe

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 4 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fionn Whitehead	...	Stefan Butler
Craig Parkinson	...	Peter Butler
Alice Lowe	...	Dr. Haynes
Asim Chaudhry	...	Mohan Thakur
Will Poulter	...	Colin Ritman
Tallulah Haddon	...	Kitty
Catriona Knox	...	Leslie
Paul Michael Bradley	...	Robin (as Paul Bradley)
Jonathan Aris	...	Crispin
A.J. Houghton	...	Young Stefan
Fleur Keith	...	Mum
Laura Evelyn	...	Pearl Ritman
Alan Asaad	...	Satpal
Suzanne Burden	...	Judith Mulligan
Jeff Minter	...	Jerome F. Davies

Storyline

1984. Stefan is developing a computer game based on the book 'Bandersnatch', a novel where you get to make choices and this determines the story. He has an opportunity to take his game to Tuckersoft, a software company, and have them release it. However, the more he works on the game the more his life emulates the game, with choices being made that are out of his control. Stefan appears to be going insane

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Plot Keywords:

interactive movie | 1980s | computer | gamebook | interactive | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Stefan plays Phaedra (the Tangerine Dream album), he's listening to "The Dream Is Always The Same". However for him, his dreams and his reality are always different.

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Goofs

In Colin Ritman's apartment, in the room that Colin & Stefan take drugs, there is a poster behind Colin's chair that very closely resembles poster art for the movie 'Akira'. Akira was made in 1988, but Bandersnatch is set in 1984, making this poster an anachronism.

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Quotes

Stefan Butler: I've actually had a bit of breakthrough with the game. I think I'd got bogged down before, but now I can see.
Dr. Haynes: So you finally finished it?
Stefan Butler: Finished, delivered, everything. I'd been trying to give the player too much choice. So I just went back and stripped loads out. And now they've only got the illusion of free will, but really, I decide the ending.
Dr. Haynes: And is it a happy ending?
Stefan Butler: I think so.

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Crazy Credits

In a few endings, once you finish the credits, a post-credits scene will play. Stefan would be seen on the same bus from the beginning, and plays a cassette called "BANDERSNATCH DEMO". The audio would just be some beeps and bleeps, but when translated using a ZX Spectrum Emulator, it gives you a QR code leading to the Tuckersoft website, found here: https://www.tuckersoft.net/ealing20541/

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Alternate Versions

There is no single narrative or version. There are five different endings, each with multiple pathways to them.

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Connections

Referenced in Sardonicast: The House that Jack Built, Bandersnatch, Shallow Grave (2019)

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Soundtracks

O Superman
Written and Performed by Laurie Anderson

User Reviews

I think some here are completely missing the point

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.

Details

Official Sites:

Official page on Netflix

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 December 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

Filming Locations:

St. George's Walk, Croydon, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

House Of Tomorrow, Netflix

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1