There are many films created each year, some in other languages than English, but not many are made that emphasize very little dialog. Motor City is a perfect example of the closest you can get to a modern silent movie. The entire event occurs with only five lines of spoken dialect and is introduced by the actions of the performers showing the audience everything they need to know through the visual images from their execution. 
The adventure includes several personalities, including the main character, John Miller (Alan Ritchson), an ex-con who is in love with Sophia (Shailene Woodley) and wants her for himself, but has to steal her from a local kingpin, Reynolds (Ben Foster). Starting with a flash of violence and battle that includes Savick (Pablo Schreiber), Kent (Ben McKenzie), Youngblood (Lionel Boyce), Singh (Amar Chadha-Patel), and Athos (Rafael Cebrián), the non-stop struggle has these figures fighting to the death.
An ex-con who finally gets off of parole is ready to ask his sweetheart to marry him goes through an escapade of brutality that he may never return from. The line of intensity is so strong that you wonder what will happen next as our hero must pass through the gauntlet that stands before him. Designed to convey the account through visual images, action scenes, and very little dialog brings us all through this new experience with wonder and awe.
This Savage journey that centers around a love triangle that goes off the deep end and turns into a savage scuffle that continues until the last one is standing is performed perfectly. Using this ingenious idea to allow the optical to show the direction of the narrative to tell the tale, Director Potsy Ponciroli, may have created a hidden gem. He also included an outstanding soundtrack based on the popular music from the 70’s that keeps the spectators interested. Potsy goes even further adding realistic make-up, and stunts that create excellent fight scenes and establish a perfect presentation of his ideas. Most of the time the demonstration of the cosmetics is marvelous until the end of the film, where it wasn’t top notch. Ponciroli includes terrific special effects that help display the action, violence, and blood that the story needs to get the message across.
Here is a motion picture that you do not want to be on your cell phone or allow yourself to be distracted, or you will get lost in the quest and miss all the dialog. Only less than two hours, so going to the concessions or the restroom is not recommended once the flick begins, it is necessarily important to follow every scene with detail. Definitely not a storyline for everyone, especially those who do not like gore and physical aggression, but for all others, if you go to see this you will be satisfied.
Final Comment: I based my grade on performance from the cast and the visual effects that present the entire narrative.
Stars 3.5 out of 5
Additional Film Information
Cast: Alan Ritchson, Ben Foster, Pablo Schreiber, Lionel Boyce, and Shailene Woodley.
Directed by: Potsy Ponciroli
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, and Thriller.
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong bloody violence, some grisly images, drug content, sexuality/nudity and language.
Running Time: 1 hour and 43 minutes.
Release Date: July 24, 2026
Distributed By: Independent Film Company
Release In: Standard
