Interactive Movies, Yay or Nay?

Did you ever read ‘choose your own ending books’ as a kid? I remember them being such a hit in elementary school. Readers could read the beginning of a story, and then when the character comes to a critical decision, you can choose which one they should make and continue with the plot along that line.

Now it seems some are working on taking that interactive storytelling viral with social media. 'Shaun of the Dead' director Edgar White is one of the creators of an online platform that begins telling stories but lets the viewers determine the paths the stories take.

This would definitely be a cool experience. A chance to let creative juices flow and keep the audience engaged with the characters. I am sure that if the idea picks up the online community it unites could be extremely interesting group of people, a combination of artists, writers, and social media lovers.

I love twists in movies, though. There is nothing as exciting in my mind as learning three quarters of the way through a story that things are nothing as they seemed. This would be a very hard aspect to capture if the audience has such influence over the plot. Really, this system could only really work on certain types of movies. Not to mention it can be kind of hard to sit back, relax, and enjoy some popcorn while watching a movie if you are helping design the direction it is going.

I believe the idea could really catch on. Social media has helped create a culture where people enjoy instant interaction, feedback, and creative control. What do you think? Would you enjoy participating in a movie like this or do you prefer having the plots more decided for you, and you can sit back and enjoy?