Tetris
2023 · Directed by Jon S. Baird
Original language: English
- thriller
- history
- drama
The story
In 1988, American video game salesman Henk Rogers discovers the video game Tetris. When he sets out to bring the game to the world, he enters a dangerous web of lies and corruption behind the Iron Curtain.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated 1980s palettes give way to drab Soviet interiors in this film: fluorescent-lit offices, grey Moscow snow, smoky backrooms lit by desk lamps. The camera moves briskly and often handheld, with quick cuts and playful inserts of falling blocks and chiptune-style beeps that give the whole thing a jittery, arcade energy. The score is synth-driven and propulsive, pushing the tension forward like a countdown clock. Its vibe is brisk, wry suspense with a playful streak: a deal-hunting race against time that feels like a caper set in the Cold War. It suits a lively weekend watch, a long-haul flight, or a night when you want something tense but never bleak. Violence is minimal, with brief threats and some menace rather than gore, and the romance and sexual content stay tame. Recommended for people who enjoy based-on-true-story business thrillers, retro video game nostalgia, and gentle hijinks under pressure.
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