The City of Lost Children

(1995) *****

Krank, a scientist who is incapable of dreaming, captures children longing to steal their dreams. Krank capture Denree, the little brother of One, a strong man played by Ron Perlman (what isn’t this guy in). One teams up with Miette, a street orphan, and the two of them face many perils as they work to release the captured children from Krank, his team of clones, the dwarf woman and the brain.

These crazy conjoined twins are out to get One and Miette, evil bitches that they are.

Once you go clone, you’re never alone.

This is one dwarf you don’t wanna mess with.

Hey, uh, does anyone know the way to the Star Trek set?

These Borg looking fellows are also after our heroes.

I love this movie and try to watch it at least once a year just because I love it so much. It’s totally surreal, dark and dangerous, yet weird and wonderful all at the same time. Like Pan’s Labyrinth, The City of Lost Children takes us to another world, a place that seems similar to our world so but much more alive. I can’t say enough about a film that can transport the viewer into an alternate universe, so much so that it takes some time to shake it off after viewing. Sure it’s strange and unsettling, but isn’t that the whole point? If I wanted to feel familiar and comfortable I’d just go for a walk and look around my neighborhood. This film is like visual crack for the senses, it defies all sense of normalcy. I love every bizarre character, every inch of the dark set from the giant floating mines in the water, to the crazy maze of rooms in the laboratory. One of my all time favorite films.