Review of Branded (2012) by Russell H — 13 Sep 2012

Yes, the previews lied to you - it's not an action thriller. But it is a very good low budget film about the great power of collective ideas. All the imagery makes sense if you understand metaphor.

We live in a dream of advertising and artificial desires; it is not real. The main character conceives of a bigger dream where advertising is no longer needed. This movie offers no real solutions, but it does offer a pointed commentary about where our society is currently stuck - in being manipulated by corporations using psychology and artistic expression to lead us.

We are cattle being led by blood-stained cattle. We are being given desires instead of producing them for ourselves. And then the protagonist realizes a way to use the tactics against the corporations, possibly even to destroy them entirely.

But what kind of world would that look like? Seriously, don't believe the bad reviews, or the trailer, and don't expect a good budget. But the metaphorical argument is inspiring. I don't know how these professional critics didn't understand the analogy of waking up from a coma.

You'll see what I mean.