Mute (2018 film)

Lore & Background

The film was in development hell for many years, but Jones always said he wished to direct it and described it as a 'spiritual sequel' to Moon, heavily inspired by the Ridley Scott film Blade Runner (1982). During development, Jones expressed his desire for Sam Rockwell to reprise his role from Moon in a cameo appearance that was to act as an epilogue for the character, and that the film would be the second installment in a trilogy consisting of Moon, Mute, and a yet to be announced third film. A separate graphic novel set in the same universe, called Madi: Once Upon a Time in the Future, was released in 2020.

Filming began on September 28, 2016, and was shot on site in Berlin by cinematographer Gary Shaw, who worked with Jones on Moon. Clint Mansell composed the film's score, citing the culture of 20th century Berlin as a major influence, drawing from German expressionism, New German Cinema, and David Bowie's Berlin Trilogy. The film was released on Netflix on 23 February 2018 after being originally scheduled for 2017.

Reader's Guide

Mute received negative reviews, with praise for its visuals but criticism for its pacing, plot, and mishandled subject material; it drew unfavorable comparisons to Blade Runner from many critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 21% based on 86 reviews, with the critics consensus reading: 'Visually polished but narratively derivative and overall muddled, Mute is a would-be sci-fi epic whose title serves as an unfortunate guide to how it might be best enjoyed.' On Metacritic, it received a score of 35 out of 100, indicating 'generally unfavorable' reviews. Despite its poor critical reception, the film remains notable as a spiritual sequel to Moon and as part of Jones's planned trilogy, with the graphic novel Madi: Once Upon a Time in the Future continuing the story.