Dark City


Dark City

Overview:

A man struggles with memories of his past, including a wife he cannot remember, in a nightmarish world with no sun and run by beings with telekinetic powers who seek the souls of humans.

Votes 821 (7.2/10)

Runtime: 100 minutes

Release Date 1998-02-27

Budget: $27,000,000.00

Revenue: $27,200,316.00

Tagline: A world where the night never ends.

Production company:

  • New Line Cinema
  • Mystery Clock Cinema

Production country:

  • Australia
  • United States of America

Genres:

  • Mystery
  • Science Fiction

Trailer

Further Information

John Murdoch
Rufus Sewell
Rufus Sewell
Inspector Frank Bumstead
William Hurt
William Hurt
Dr. Daniel P. Schreber
Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland
Emma Murdoch
Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly
Mr. Hand
Richard O'Brien
Richard O'Brien
Mr. Book
Ian Richardson
Ian Richardson
Mr. Wall
Bruce Spence
Bruce Spence
Det. Eddie Walenski
Colin Friels
Colin Friels
Karl Harris
John Bluthal
John Bluthal
Officer Husselbeck
Mitchell Butel
Mitchell Butel
May
Melissa George
Melissa George
Chief Inspector Stromboli
Frank Gallacher
Frank Gallacher
Hotel Manager / Vendor
Ritchie Singer
Ritchie Singer
Taxi Driver
Justin Monjo
Justin Monjo
Mr. Rain
Nicholas Bell
Nicholas Bell
Mr. Sleep
Satya Gumbert
Satya Gumbert
Mr. Sleep Filming Double
Noah Gumbert
Noah Gumbert
Mr. Quick
Frederick Miragliotta
Frederick Miragliotta
Director
Alex Proyas
Alex Proyas
Screenplay
Alex Proyas
Alex Proyas
Screenplay
Lem Dobbs
Lem Dobbs
Screenplay
David S. Goyer
David S. Goyer
Producer
Alex Proyas
Alex Proyas
Original Music Composer
Trevor Jones
Trevor Jones
Director of Photography
Dariusz Wolski
Dariusz Wolski
Editor
Dov Hoenig
Dov Hoenig
Production Design
George Liddle
George Liddle
Production Design
Patrick Tatopoulos
Patrick Tatopoulos
Costume Design
Liz Keogh
Liz Keogh
Story
Alex Proyas
Alex Proyas
Producer
Andrew Mason
Andrew Mason
Executive Producer
Michael De Luca
Michael De Luca
Executive Producer
Brian Witten
Brian Witten
Line Producer
Barbara Gibbs
Barbara Gibbs
Casting
Valerie McCaffrey
Valerie McCaffrey
Casting
Vanessa Pereira
Vanessa Pereira
Casting
Shauna Wolifson
Shauna Wolifson
Art Direction
Richard Hobbs
Richard Hobbs
Art Direction
Michelle McGahey
Michelle McGahey
Construction Coordinator
Mark Stephens
Mark Stephens
Art Department Coordinator
Pru Smith
Pru Smith
Assistant Art Director
Fiona Scott
Fiona Scott
Assistant Art Director
Paul Messer
Paul Messer
Sculptor
Marc Barold
Marc Barold
Sculptor
David Chazan
David Chazan
Sculptor
Frazer East
Frazer East
Sculptor
Guido Helmstetter
Guido Helmstetter
Sculptor
Tony Lees
Tony Lees
Sculptor
Paul Raymond
Paul Raymond
Set Designer
Sarah Light
Sarah Light
Set Designer
Jennifer Carseldine
Jennifer Carseldine
Set Designer
Axel Bartz
Axel Bartz
Property Master
Brian Dusting
Brian Dusting
Set Designer
Judith Harvey
Judith Harvey
Foley
Gerard Long
Gerard Long
Foley
Mario Vaccaro
Mario Vaccaro
Dialogue Editor
Phil Winters
Phil Winters
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Ian McLoughlin
Ian McLoughlin
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Roger Savage
Roger Savage
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Michael Thompson
Michael Thompson
Visual Effects Supervisor
Mara Bryan
Mara Bryan
Visual Effects Supervisor
Andrew Mason
Andrew Mason
Visual Effects Supervisor
Arthur Windus
Arthur Windus
Visual Effects Producer
Mara Bryan
Mara Bryan
Visual Effects Producer
Arthur Windus
Arthur Windus
Stunt Coordinator
Glenn Boswell
Glenn Boswell
Stunt Coordinator
Rocky McDonald
Rocky McDonald
Still Photographer
Jasin Boland
Jasin Boland
Steadicam Operator
Robert Agganis
Robert Agganis
Gaffer
Reg Garside
Reg Garside
Camera Operator
Ross Emery
Ross Emery
Camera Operator
Robert Agganis
Robert Agganis
Casting
Liz Mullinar
Liz Mullinar
Costume Supervisor
Kerry Thompson
Kerry Thompson
Music Editor
Simon Leadley
Simon Leadley
Script Supervisor
Sophie Fabbri-Jackson
Sophie Fabbri-Jackson
Hairstylist
Lesley Vanderwalt
Lesley Vanderwalt
Hairstylist
Bec Taylor
Bec Taylor
Hairstylist
Lynn Wheeler
Lynn Wheeler
Makeup Artist
Lesley Vanderwalt
Lesley Vanderwalt
Sound Effects Editor
Gareth Vanderhope
Gareth Vanderhope
Sound Effects Editor
Frank Lipson
Frank Lipson
Assistant Director
James McTeigue
James McTeigue

John Chard

This review is of the Director's Cut. Welcome To Shell Beach. Dark City is directed by Alex Proyas who also co-writes the screenplay with Leon Dobbs and David S. Goyer. It stars Rufus Sewell, William Hurt, Jennifer Connelly, Kiefer Sutherland, Richard O'Brien and Ian Richardson. Music is by Trevor Jones and cinematography by Dariusz Wolski. A man wakes up in a grotty hotel bathroom and upon finding a dead girl in another room he realises he has no recollection of who he is or how he got there... There's a lot of Blade Runner fans still out there waiting for that film's sexual partner to happen along. What many of them don't realise is that Alex Proyas has already made that movie. More than a cult film yet still criminally ignored in certain circles, Dark City, by way of poor box office and studio interference, never got off to the best of starts. The problems were compounded with the release of The Matrix the following year, where that film's popularity, and its sci-fi linkage to Dark City, led many to think that Proyas' movie was a Matrix rip-off; pushing it further (unjustly) back in the sci-fi noir pantheon. Fact is is that Dark City homages much great cinema from previous years, but it has influenced much that followed, with Inception fans asked to note that Nolan himself was taking notes... Stolen Memories. Dark City is a feverish film noir dressed up in stunning sci-fi clothes. The amazing visuals have led many to state that it's a film with much style and little substance, something which Proyas has fiercely argued against; and he's right to do so, especially once his own preferred director's cut became available to view. The story is a complex one, pulsing with human characters living in a world where there is no daylight, with their respective memories scratchy to say the least, it quickly becomes evident that a creepy alien race are overseeing things. The aliens, wonderfully attired in black trench-coats and hats to match, and aided by Kiefer Sutherland's shifty - stammer affected - doctor, have special powers and their reasons for being here unfold in deftly constructed stages. One man stands in their way, John Murdoch (Sewell), but he is an olde noir amnesia sufferer supreme and his battle to unravel what is going on is our task as well. Do you think about the past much Mrs. Murdoch? The search for identity and the truth is what propels the picture forward. Murdoch in his confused state is not only at the center of an existential dilemma, he's also the focal point for a serial killer murder investigation. This also as he tries to come to terms with matters of the heart, it seems he has a beautiful wife (Connelly), and that she may have cheated on him? And why is he drawn to the place known as Shell Beach? A simple narrative hidden by visual splendours? Don't make me laugh! But hell you have to say the visual look and atmosphere of the design is very much attention grabbing. I have become the monster you were intended to be. With the film noir characters in place; Hurt's dour sleuth, Sewell's amnesiac and Connelly's sultry torch singer, Proyas brings German expressionism in abundance whilst overseeing an eye splintering neo-noir colour palette. Greens and reds often ping from the screen, while the murky browns and golds down on the angular city streets pave the way for changed perceptions and revelations of plotting. There are reoccurring motifs throughout, with swirls and circles integral to mood and meanings, while at the mid-point we then get to see Proyas' tricks of the trade, where the city shifts and moves to create a meeting of Metropolis and Gotham, all as the humans slumber away. Watch those clocks folks... You know how I was supposed to feel. That person isn't me... never was. You wanted to know what it was about us that made us human. Well, you're not going to find it... Acting performances are hardly top of the line (Sutherland especially irritates more than he impresses), but they actually don't need to be, and they all look terrific in their respective dressage. The story is of course bonkers and one which I myself found was much better whilst consuming mucho alcohol! (I watched it three times in 48 hours!) While Proyas himself is on record as saying it's a far from flawless picture. Again he is right, but he also knows that his film is still under valued and in need of more to seek out his director's cut. The late Roger Ebert championed Dark City with much gusto, and he provides very good input on the DVD, much like Roger I have to say, this is a unique and fabulous sci-fi noir experience. A film in fact fit to watch alongside Blade Runner; And I do not say that lightly. 9/10

Children of Men
Children of Men
Votes 2055 (7.4/10)
Release Date 9/22/2006

Details »

A Scanner Darkly
A Scanner Darkly
Votes 528 (6.8/10)
Release Date 5/25/2006

Details »

Minority Report
Minority Report
Votes 2577 (7.1/10)
Release Date 6/20/2002

Details »

Looper
Looper
Votes 4660 (6.6/10)
Release Date 9/26/2012

Details »

Mad Max: Fury Road
Mad Max: Fury Road
Votes 9337 (7.2/10)
Release Date 5/13/2015

Details »

Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Votes 4143 (7.7/10)
Release Date 7/1/1991

Details »

Twelve Monkeys
Twelve Monkeys
Votes 2384 (7.4/10)
Release Date 12/29/1995

Details »

Terminator Salvation
Terminator Salvation
Votes 2435 (5.9/10)
Release Date 5/20/2009

Details »

Babylon A.D.
Babylon A.D.
Votes 670 (5.4/10)
Release Date 8/20/2008

Details »

Moon
Moon
Votes 1775 (7.6/10)
Release Date 6/12/2009

Details »

TRON: Legacy
TRON: Legacy
Votes 2815 (6.3/10)
Release Date 12/10/2010

Details »

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Votes 951 (7.3/10)
Release Date 12/24/1981

Details »

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Votes 4368 (7.3/10)
Release Date 6/26/2014

Details »

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
Votes 5529 (6.6/10)
Release Date 11/18/2014

Details »

Terminator Genisys
Terminator Genisys
Votes 3598 (5.8/10)
Release Date 6/23/2015

Details »

I Am Legend
I Am Legend
Votes 4803 (6.9/10)
Release Date 12/14/2007

Details »

In Time
In Time
Votes 3365 (6.7/10)
Release Date 10/27/2011

Details »

9
9
Votes 1256 (6.6/10)
Release Date 8/19/2009

Details »

I, Robot
I, Robot
Votes 3744 (6.7/10)
Release Date 7/15/2004

Details »

Blade Runner
Blade Runner
Votes 3455 (7.9/10)
Release Date 6/25/1982

Details »