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  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

Tenet has scenes filmed once forwards and once backwards according to new preview

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By Bradley Russell published 13 August 2020

Read the first Tenet preview reactions now

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A Tenet preview is bolted on to the Inception 10th anniversary re-release in cinemas and, according to those who have seen it, it offers up a “mind-blowing” experience. It also focuses on director Christopher Nolan’s frankly unbelievable dedication when it comes to using practical effects.

Forget blowing up a literal 747, the headline of the preview reactions (of which you can see a small sample of below) has to be Nolan filming certain scenes twice: once forwards and once in reverse motion to get the desired “time-inversion” effect, with one fight scene involving John David Washington’s The Protagonist using that technique.

In fact, there is apparently so little CGI here that a green screen wasn’t used. Not even once, according to actor Himesh Patel.

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Essentially everything was done using practical effects, with stuntmen supposedly talking up how they’ve never done anything like this before. There’s a reason why Nolan described Tenet as having fewer VFX shots than most rom-coms.

One of the most detailed reactions from the footage comes from Twitter account ljwr_ who hints at the “next level crazy shit” on offer in just a few weeks and suggests that Kenneth Branagh’s Russian villain might just steal the show.

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holy shit the #Tenet preview that plays before the Anniversary rerelease of Inception is fucking next level crazy shit. This is going to be incredible pic.twitter.com/9ualTpdnIUAugust 12, 2020

— ljwr_ on August 12, 2020

#Tenet preview:-John David Washington listed as “The Protagonist”-Professional stuntmen said they’ve never done anything like Tenet-They shot the same scenes twice, once forwards once with the actors doing everything backwards.-NO green screen-they did EVERYTHING practicallyAugust 12, 2020

— ljwr_ on August 12, 2020

-Footage of them in various countries all over the world-kind of implies that the masks are used to manipulate/weaponise time inversion (to me, anyway)-extended look at the fight in this room with the bullets from the trailers -longer look at the plane crash & the aftermath pic.twitter.com/RkUVlRFcXbAugust 12, 2020

— ljwr_ on August 12, 2020

-professional stuntmen said they’d never done anything like Tenet-actors did the same scenes forwards & then backwards (footage of JDW doing a front roll & then a back roll) (footage of stuntmen fighting & being flipped over someone, then physically doing the opposite)August 12, 2020

— ljwr_ on August 12, 2020

The rest of the Tenet preview reactions are similarly effusive: lots of capital letters, excitable swearing, and a real reason to buy a ticket if you feel comfortable doing so when it hits cinemas on August 26 and in select US cities on September 2.

The #Tenet preview before Inception was mind blowing! Can’t wait to see it!August 12, 2020

— MCFCTone on August 12, 2020

The Tenet preview before Inception is AMAZING. CANT WAIT.August 12, 2020

— funnyoldworldx on August 12, 2020

That #Tenet preview was madness. Good or bad, rest assure, TENET is going to be something to behold.August 13, 2020

— CorySims7 on August 13, 2020

Looking forward to more movies this year? Find out what’s still to come in 2020 with our movie release dates guide.

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Bradley Russell
Bradley Russell
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Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

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