There are certain video games that have a natural path that can be traced in terms of what a move about that game would be about. Assassin’s Creed and time-travel undercover ops. Uncharted and a treasure-hunting mystery. Sonic the Hedgehog and a fast blue animal with rings. Super Mario Bros and plumbing. And the like.
So, when the news came down about an upcoming film called ‘Tetris,’ it makes one’s brain start to think of the possibilities: will this be a movie along the same lines as Hasbro’s now-scuttled plans for turning its games into film properties? Will it be a tale about giant blocky alien ships invading Earth, and then only way for us to defeat them is to get them lined up next to each other so our missiles can make them “disappear?” (I’d watch that, probably.) Could it be a horror movie based on an ancient puzzle, and when the pieces align just so, it sends the user into a shadowy nether-realm? (I’d definitely watch that.)
Well, no, that’s all wrong – and probably the furthest thing from our mind is actually the correct answer: ‘Tetris’ will be an espionage-style thriller, telling the true(ish) story of how the game was discovered and brought to the worldwide video-game market. Direct from producers Apple TV+, here’s the “official” synopsis:
“Tetris” tells the unbelievable story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers Tetris in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, “Tetris” is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes, and a nail-biting race to the finish.
You have to admit, the description makes things sound pretty interesting here, and the trailer also ratchets up the intrigue by several levels. Edgerton looks right at home leading this kind of a tale, and the 8-bit graphics overlayed across the preview add a singular look. Throw in a synth-poppy rendition of the Tetris theme song mashed up with Europe’s ’80s hit ‘The Final Countdown,’ and the whole thing just begs you to want to know more.
This is marketing at it’s finest, and so far, this movie seems like one definitely worth checking out for a not only gamers but spy/thriller movies fans as well.
‘Tetris’ will premiere exclusively via the Apple TV+ streaming service on March 31, 2023.
