Judging by this first trailer, it looks like Branded could be this year’s Limitless or Source Code, an intriguing sci-fi thriller set in a dystopian future where corporate branding has run amok.
Co-directed and -written by Jamie Bradshaw and Aleksandr Dulerayn, the film has a solid cast featuring Ed Stoppard, Max von Sydow, Leelee Sobieski, and Jeffrey Tambor.
Yahoo Movies have debuted the first trailer, in which is embedded 97 QR codes that lead you on to the film’s main website and further material for it, including images, mock adverts (for companies like La Alligator, obbidas, The Burger, and Vipsache), mock commercials, and more, a handful of which we’ve included below.
“After Misha skyrockets to the top of the advertising business, a tragic mishap on the set of one of his productions torpedoes his career and he retreats into self-imposed exile. Ten years later, Misha returns to a radically changed world and finds himself plagued by visions of bizarre and terrifying creatures with the ability to influence people?s thoughts, desires and actions. Creatures only he can see.
He soon realizes the creatures are part of a clandestine campaign unleashed by a rival advertising agency to make ?fat the new fabulous? and create a new era of uncontrolled consumer appetite. In order to save mankind, Misha uses his own considerable marketing skills to launch an ingenious plan to try to eradicate the plague. But the corporate legions will not go down without a fight.”
Limitless and Source Code both had very impressive ad campaigns that in a big way helped to push the mid-level budgeted films to success worldwide, each turning $30m. into $150m., which is no small feat for smaller sci-fi projects.
Branded will be released in the US on 7th September, and though no UK date has yet been set, I think with the right ad campaign (ironically enough) it could turn into quite a hit at the international box office as well. Here’s the first trailer for your viewing pleasure, followed by a selection of the images and mock adverts that are currently live. Enjoy.
