Dark City has a
grand ending, but the buildup is what makes many feel this movie just isn’t
that good. After a while of waiting to see what these “Strangers” were up to, I
found myself getting tired of the mystery and just wanting the movie to end.
But as it got closer to the climax, I suddenly found myself sitting up, drawn
back into the story, and eager to see what would happen next.
Directed by Alex
Proyas (The Crow (1994) and I, Robot (2004)), Dark City was his next film after
The Crow, which tragically saw the death of Brandon Lee on set during its final
days of filming.
The movie
follows John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell), who wakes up in a bathtub with no memory
of who he is. To make matters worse, he finds a dead girl in his room. Soon, he
realizes he’s being hunted by the police, who suspect him of murder.
As Murdoch tries
to clear his name and uncover the truth about himself, he finds that a
mysterious group known as the "Strangers"—who possess psychokinetic
abilities—are also searching for him, but with deadly intent.
There were
concerns that audiences wouldn’t understand the film due to its complexity, as
you’re constantly left questioning what is real and what isn’t. But that’s the
entire point, and it adds to the movie’s style and narrative, keeping you
engaged rather than lost. Proyas set out to make a horror thriller, and while
the film is undeniably dark, the horror aspect is overshadowed by its more
compelling thriller elements.
The screenplay
was written by Proyas, Lem Dobbs, and David S. Goyer—Goyer also wrote the
sequel to The Crow. Originally, Proyas intended the story to center on
Detective Frank Bumstead (William Hurt), but as the script developed, the focus
shifted to the man being chased—John Murdoch.
Dark City was
filmed entirely on set, with no real locations used. Proyas even brought back
the same production designer from The Crow. This fully built set helps showcase
the film’s excellent cinematography, moving seamlessly between the familiar
cityscape and the eerie lair of the Strangers.
Now considered a
cult classic, Dark City gained traction largely thanks to Roger Ebert (a
well-known movie critic) and home video releases. Though it wasn’t a box office
hit in 1998, it has since earned a solid reputation on review sites. It’s a
film that rewards patience—stick with it, and you just might enjoy the ride.
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