Mortal Engines (2018) is an ambitious science-fiction adventure that dares to imagine a post-apocalyptic world where entire cities roam the wastelands on gigantic wheels, devouring smaller towns to survive. It’s a strikingly original premise, one that promises grandeur and spectacle and visually, the film certainly delivers.
Directed by Christian Rivers | Produced by Peter Jackson | Based on the novel by Philip Reeve
From its opening sequence, where the enormous city of London hunts down a smaller settlement, the movie establishes a world of mechanical marvels and decaying humanity. The production design is breathtaking: towering engines, steam-powered monstrosities, and intricate machinery fill every frame. Director Christian Rivers, a longtime collaborator of Peter Jackson, brings a painter’s eye to the visuals, and the CGI work is nothing short of spectacular.
However, beneath all the spectacle, Mortal Engines struggles to find emotional depth. The story follows Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar), a scarred young woman seeking revenge on Thaddeus Valentine (Hugo Weaving), the powerful London historian responsible for her mother’s death. Along the way, she teams up with Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan), an idealistic apprentice who becomes an unlikely ally. Despite the promising setup, the characters often feel underdeveloped, their motivations rushed, and their relationships thinly drawn.
The pacing is uneven, after a thrilling start, the middle section bogs down in exposition, and the film never fully recovers its early momentum. Still, Hugo Weaving delivers a solid performance as the morally ambiguous Valentine, and Jihae’s portrayal of the mysterious anti-heroine Anna Fang injects much-needed energy whenever she’s on screen.
Where Mortal Engines shines is in its world-building. The concept of “Municipal Darwinism,” where mobile cities consume each other to survive, is both absurd and fascinating, a brilliant metaphor for unchecked greed and consumption. Unfortunately, the film never quite capitalizes on these ideas, favoring action over reflection.
In the end, Mortal Engines is a feast for the eyes but not necessarily for the mind or heart. It’s an impressive visual experience that might have been a modern fantasy classic with a tighter script and stronger emotional grounding. For fans of large-scale sci-fi world-building, it’s worth a watch; for everyone else, it’s a reminder that stunning visuals alone can’t keep a story running.
Quotes from Mortal Engines (2018)
Thaddeus Valentine (Hugo Weaving):
“We’re not living; we’re surviving.”
Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar):
“You can’t fix the past, but you can make the future better.”
Shrike (Stephen Lang):
“You promised me I would be free.”
Thaddeus Valentine:
“In the great game of survival, the strong eat the weak.”
Anna Fang (Jihae):
“Some scars don’t fade. They make you who you are.”
Hester Shaw:
“My mother gave her life to keep something safe. I’m not going to let it be destroyed.”
Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan):
“You said you’d kill Valentine. Is that still your plan?”
Hester: “It’s always been my plan.”
Thaddeus Valentine:
“Old tech. Old mistakes. The Ancients thought they were gods. Now look at us.”
Shrike:
“I wanted to make you like me. So you would never feel pain again.”
Hester Shaw (final narration):
“The world is changing. Maybe this time, for the better.”
