In a dark 1940s-style future, John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes up in a bathtub in a hotel room in a surreal and gloomy city, suffering from amnesia.
In the room is also the body of a murdered woman, and he receives a phone call from a Dr Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland using a Peter Lorre voice), who informs him he needs to escape.
Murdoch learns his identity and discovers he used to have a wife called Emma (Jennifer Connelly). He also discovers he’s wanted by the police (for a series of murders which he doesn’t recall committing) and by a group known as ‘the Strangers’ – a race of mysterious bald figures (including Richard O’Brien, Ian Richardson and Bruce Spence) in black leather who are conducting a weird experiment on the inhabitants of the city.
He also finds out that he and the Strangers share a telekinetic power called ‘the Tuning’ with which time can be stopped.
The Strangers use this power every midnight to rearrange the whole city as well as people’s minds and identities.
Murdoch is eventually caught by police inspector Frank Bumstead (William Hurt), who sympathises with him (he has his own doubts about the strange reality everyone seems to live in).
The two seek out Dr Schreber, who might hold the key to solving the murders and the mystery of what exactly is going on in the perpetually dark city they inhabit.
Filmed in a studio in Sydney, Australia, director Alex Proyas lends a potent gothic atmosphere to this dreamlike film-noir fantasy. The effects are impressively realised, too, as buildings stretch and widen before our eyes.
One of the most overlooked science fiction films of the nineties – and a clear precursor of The Matrix(1999) – Dark City is a stunning-looking piece of work and a great piece of metaphysical fantasy.
Incorporating elements of film noir, German Expressionism, Kafka and science fiction, the film was Proyas’ follow-up to The Crow(1993).
John Murdoch
Rufus Sewell Dr Daniel Schreber
Kiefer Sutherland Emma Murdoch
Jennifer Connelly Mr Hand
Richard O’Brien Mr Book
Ian Richardson Walenski
Colin Friels Husselbeck
Mitchell Butel Stromboli
Frank Gallacher May
Melissa George Inspector Frank Bumstead
William Hurt
Director
Alex Proyas
Video
You May Also Like
Love Me Tender (1956) Early in his career, Elvis Presley realised that if he wanted to promote all his records,…
S.O.B. (1981) You don't expect this sort of ill-conceived vitriol from Blake Edwards, creator of the amiable, if…
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) A good-natured, black-and-white spoof of the detective genre, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid attempted (with varying degrees…
Evilspeak (1981) Awkward, sensitive military cadet Stanley Coopersmith (Clint Howard, less-famous brother of Happy Days star and renowned…
Pink Angels (1971) A group of cross-dressing bikers - Michael (John Alderman), David (Tom Basham), Eddie (Henry Olek), Arnold…
Batman Returns (1992) Batman Returns pits the Dark Knight of Gotham City against a new gang of villainous fiends. Oswald…
Last Detail, The (1973) Jack Nicholson, in one of his best roles, plays "Bad-ass" Buddusky (pictured), a veteran naval petty…
All the Green Year 1 9 8 0 (Australia) 6 x 25 minute episodes An elderly man named Charlie Reeves (Alwyn…
Murdoch learns his identity and discovers he used to have a wife called Emma (Jennifer Connelly). He also discovers he’s wanted by the police (for a series of murders which he doesn’t recall committing) and by a group known as ‘the Strangers’ – a race of mysterious bald figures (including Richard O’Brien, Ian Richardson and Bruce Spence) in black leather who are conducting a weird experiment on the inhabitants of the city.
