I am a sucker for any sort of fiction that takes place in a dystopian environment. However, not all science fiction films that use this concept are made equal. The genre can be a bit hit or miss, but sometimes you run into titles that truly seem to hold a lot of promise. Branded is a film that appears to be in more than a little debt to John Carpenter’s They Live, but it at least seems as if the filmmakers are doing their part in creating an interesting story out of some very similar material. Unfortunately, I don’t see any sweet sunshades or 15-minute street fights in this trailer, but I do see some very solid CGI and a very good cast – which makes me fairly hopeful for the project.
Written and directed by the little-known duo of Jamie Bradshaw and Aleksandr Dulerayn, they are apparently real-life marketing executives who previously worked together on the Russian short film The Offshore Reserves, these two have assembled a cast that includes Leelee Sobieski (who I have not seen in a while, but who I generally enjoy), British actor Ed Stoppard, and the incredible Max Von Sydow – who looks as creepy as ever. Shot in Russia and featuring some lush cinematography, I have some fairly high hopes for this project. Continue reading for the official synopsis and the official trailer.
BRANDED is a dark and mind-bending journey into a surreal, dystopian society where corporate brands have unleashed a monstrous global conspiracy to get inside our minds and keep the population disillusioned, dependent and passive. One man’s Misha (Ed Stoppard) passion to unlock the truth behind the conspiracy will lead to an epic battle with the hidden forces that really control our world.
BRANDED is the vision of two widely respected marketing executives: Jamie Bradshaw and Alexander Doulerain. Bradshaw and Doulerain co-wrote, produced and directed. Ed Stoppard, Leelee Sobieski, Jeffrey Tambor, Ingeborga Dapkunaite and Max Von Sydow star.