Story Overview

Set in a surreal and haunting world, The City of Lost Children follows the disturbing experiments of a deranged scientist named Krank (Daniel Emilfork), who lives on an isolated offshore platform. Unable to dream, Krank suffers from rapid aging and psychological decay. Desperate to reverse his condition, he devises a sinister machine designed to steal the dreams of children—believing their innocent fantasies may restore his own lost ability to dream.

To fuel his experiments, children are abducted from a nearby port town and subjected to the nightmarish device. Among them is the younger brother of One (Ron Perlman), a gentle giant and former strongman. Determined to rescue him, One infiltrates Krank’s bizarre and dangerous laboratory.

Inside, he encounters a grotesque and imaginative universe: a disembodied brain communicating from an aquarium, a group of aggressive clones born from failed experiments, and a band of orphan thieves led by a manipulative, octopus-like woman. Navigating this twisted environment, One forms an unlikely alliance with a clever young girl, and together they embark on a perilous journey to save his brother.

Blending dark fantasy with science fiction, the film presents a visually rich and emotionally layered tale about innocence, memory, and the human need to dream.