Shot entirely on iPhone 13 Pro, ‘Detectives’ uses a relatable movie scenario to demonstrate the camera’s Cinematic mode feature and unpack it with self-referential dialogue. In an archetypal scene from a detective thriller, we find two cops on a stakeout. The background cop is having an existential crisis about being blurry. The foreground cop explains that the camera is just focusing on the scene’s “most important character.” As the dialogue eventually shifts the narrative in favor of the blurry cop, the camera pulls him into focus. But it turns out to be a plot red herring, and the focus ultimately shifts back to the foreground hero.

This piece of film plays like a scene from a detective thriller.

Two detectives - one weathered, one fresher-faced and clean cut - sit in the front of an unmarked car on a stakeout. They talk to each other in gravelly tones like they’re discussing a case, but in reality the dialogue is about something completely different...

The cop in the foreground is sharp and in focus. The cop in the background is soft.

BACKGROUND: Can I ask you a question? Am I... out of focus?

FOREGROUND: You’re fine.

BACKGROUND: Yeah but I mean, look at me... I’m all blurry.

FOREGROUND: Well, you’re... supporting cast.

BACKGROUND: What?

FOREGROUND: The camera focuses on the most important character. Which is me.

The out-of-focus cop lets this sink in.

BACKGROUND: Well what if my character had a big reveal?

FOREGROUND: Like what?

BACKGROUND: Like maybe I'm the killer.

FOREGROUND: Are you?

BACKGROUND: ...Yeah.

The focus switches to the cop in the background. The foreground cop is now an out-of-focus blur.

BACKGROUND: ...No.

The focus switches back to the cop in the foreground.

Super: Shift focus in Cinematic mode

We see the scene reflected in the three lenses of the iPhone 13 Pro, taking in the design of the new camera module.

BACKGROUND: ... Could’ve been. I could’ve been the killer.

Super: iPhone 13 Pro

Hollywood in your pocket