Could “obsessive” be a term that applies to the hardcore gamer community? Maybe. Maybe not. Taras Lashchak and Stanislav Puzdriak explore an obsession taken to the extreme in their short film, Memory Card.
Jack (Lucas Hogan) is an obsessed gamer who just got his hands on the original PlayStation. His roommate, Freddy (Cameron Schmitt), is worried about his mental well-being because he does not go outside, does not do his share of the work in the apartment, and does not engage in other healthy, life-sustaining activities.
Making matters worse, Mr. Monkey, a popular vlogger, proposes to the world a game. Geographic coordinates are hidden within various PS video games, like Crash Bandicoot and Tekken. You must scour each game with a fine tooth comb to locate the geo-codes. Once assembled, that location is a gamer treasure—a coveted memory card with riches and rewards for the one person who can find it. A determined Jack is hellbent on finding the memory card, but to what lengths is he willing to go to in order find it?
“You must scour each game with a fine tooth comb to locate the geo-codes.”
I have many friends who are gamers and it’s incredible to me the amount of time spent playing and streaming their digital exploits. Though Memory Card is not necessarily a psychological treatise on the preoccupations and fixations of gaming, it is an exciting thriller using the themes of obsession as its theme.
We see our protagonist slowly but quickly walk down that path of obsession to find the clues and find that prize. As someone who has played games in the past, this need to stop at nothing to complete missions, score achievements, and maybe beat the final boss has led to late-night sessions with no sleep. What the film does so well is to document Jack’s slow decline in health, friendship, and consciousness in thriller fashion.
Memory Card skillfully captures the intense descent of a gamer’s obsession, transforming it into a gripping thriller. Directors Taras Lashchak and Stanislav Puzdriak expertly portray Jack’s (Lucas Hogan) unraveling as he pursues the ultimate gaming prize, highlighting the fine line between passion and obsession. This short film is a compelling watch for anyone fascinated by the darker side of gaming culture.
For screening information, visit the Memory Card official website.
"…captures the intense descent of a gamer's obsession, transforming it into a gripping thriller."
