‘Mute’ Early Reviews Butchers Duncan Jones's Latest Project

The new Netflix movie, “Mute,” has only been up a few hours and it’s already receiving backlash from critics, saying it’s a ‘Netflix disaster,’ ‘a bumbling sci-fi debacle,’ and a ‘mystifying failure.’ Like “Bright” and “The Cloverfield Paradox,” the film is not having any luck on reviews.
The Duncan Jones-directed film dropped on February 23. Starring Tarzan’s Alexander Skarsgård and Paul Rudd, “Mute” is set in Berlin in the year 2052. It follows the story of a bartender (Skarsgård) looking for his missing girlfriend. This mission takes him deeper into the city’s darker and more criminal side.

Netflix’s ‘Mute:’ A good name gone bad

Jones wanted to follow up on his award-winning 2009 film, “Moon,” but ended up bringing dirt to his name. The cool special effects weren’t enough to save his name.
Critics are having a field day with his sci-fi film. The Guardian gave the film a one-star rating, saying Mute was “a spectacularly blown shot at redemption.” They added that his creative commitment is still there, but has been used for bad impulses.

Variety says Netflix is “greenlighting second-rate ‘content’ like cinema was going out of style.” The media outfit also said that the 14-16 year efforts of Duncan just got some well-known actors, but delivered disappointment. They added to the burn saying “Mute” is “an over-designed but otherwise uninspired slice of sci-fi noir.”
The Detroit News joins in the fun and calls the film “a mystifying failure.”

Dedicated to David Bowie

Although he has not received any kind comments on his latest film, Duncan Jones ultimately dedicated this film to his late father, David Bowie. It is the first film he directed since losing his father in 2016. Jones claims that his father inspired the movie, both in term of theme and storytelling.

In an article by IndieWire, Jones said: “an awful lot of the story revolves around the nature of parenthood” He adds that a metaphor his late father taught him was about putting yourself in water deeper than your toes can touch. “That’s what I did with ‘Mute.’ I made a film which was a little bit uncomfortable and unexpected, and darker than people might be expecting.” Aside from his father, Jones also dedicates the movie to Marion Skene, his late nanny. She took care of him when his father was touring around the world.