In this Motor City movie review, we look at Potsy Ponciroli’s gritty, near-silent 1970s action thriller starring Alan Ritchson.
When I first saw the marketing for Motor City, it looked like a fun throwback action film with plenty of style. After seeing it, I walked away feeling a little torn. There are elements I immediately enjoyed, but I didn’t love the film nearly as much as I was hoping to.
The Premise: Revenge in 1977 Detroit
One thing I can say right away: this is a good-looking movie. As a period piece set in 1970s Detroit, it does a great job bringing that era to life. I loved the colors, the production design, the costumes, the vehicles, the hairstyles, and all the little details that make the world feel authentic. There are even moments where the lighting and heightened reality give the film a bit of a Sin City vibe. Between the visuals, the sound design, and some excellent needle drops, this is a stylish, competently made film.
The action is another major highlight. There’s some fun hand-to-hand combat, satisfying gunplay, and a few standout sequences, especially in the latter half. The elevator fight between Alan Ritchson and Pablo Schreiber is easily the best action scene in the film. It’s brutal, bloody, incredibly entertaining, and takes full advantage of the confined space. It got the biggest reaction from the audience I watched it with.
The cast also does solid work across the board. Alan Ritchson is a strong lead, and I believed his performance throughout. Shailene Woodley is good in her role, Ben Foster once again proves he’s great at playing an absolute sleazeball, and the supporting cast all fit their roles well. I also appreciated the commitment everyone makes to the film’s biggest creative decision.
That decision is making Motor City largely a silent film.
Alan Ritchson and the Power of Silent Action
In this Motor City movie review, the movie is filled with music, so it’s by no means completely silent, but there is very little spoken dialogue throughout. Characters often communicate through facial expressions, body language, and conversations viewed from a distance or through glass, where you understand what’s happening without hearing what’s being said. Alan Ritchson, in particular, carries much of his performance through physicality and subtle expressions rather than dialogue.
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It’s a genuinely bold creative choice, and at times it works really well. It gives the film its own identity and lets the performances lean heavily on physical acting. I appreciated that the filmmakers fully committed to the concept rather than treating it like a gimmick.
Unfortunately, that same decision is what holds the film back.
Where the Script and Pacing Stumble
As the movie went on, the novelty wore off for me. I appreciated the approach, but the lack of dialogue prevented me from emotionally connecting with the characters on a deeper level. The performances are good, but the film never lets you fully invest in these people or their relationships.
At its core, Motor City tells a revenge story that feels very familiar: a good man is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, loses the woman he loves, spends years in prison, and eventually returns seeking vengeance against the people who ruined his life. It’s a premise we’ve seen many times before, and outside of the film’s nearly dialogueless presentation, there isn’t much here that feels unique.
The musical score and soundtrack do a lot of heavy lifting, and both are effective. The use of classic 1970s songs reinforces the atmosphere, but atmosphere alone can only carry the film so far. Without stronger character development or more emotionally engaging storytelling, the revenge feels satisfying on a surface level without becoming especially memorable.
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Final Verdict: Is Motor City Worth Watching?
By the end, I found Motor City fairly generic and forgettable. Outside a handful of strong action sequences, particularly the elevator fight, there isn’t much that will stick with me. Most of the story beats are predictable, and the final epilogue leaves the film on a note that felt more goofy than satisfying. Tonally, the movie never figures out what it wants to be.
Is it a gritty revenge thriller? Sometimes.
Is it trying to be funny? Occasionally.
Is it a deeply emotional character drama? Not really.
The romance never becomes particularly compelling, the revenge doesn’t feel as impactful as it should, and the lack of dialogue keeps the characters from reaching the emotional depth that could have elevated the story.
In this Motor City movie review, none of that makes Motor City a bad movie. I still had a decent time watching it, and there’s plenty to appreciate from a filmmaking perspective. The action choreography is entertaining, the cast is committed, and the film certainly has style.
But if you value strong characters and storytelling just as much as stylish filmmaking, you’ll probably walk away feeling the same way I did. It was perfectly fine while it lasted, but it’s also the kind of movie I’ll probably forget about a week from now.
Rating: 5/10
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