Dark City (1998)

A man struggles with memories of his past, which include a wife he cannot remember and a nightmarish world no one else ever seems to wake up from.

Director:

Alex Proyas

Writers:

Alex Proyas (story), Alex Proyas (screenplay)

Stars:

Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly

12 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rufus Sewell	...	John Murdoch
William Hurt	...	Inspector Frank Bumstead
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Dr. Daniel Schreber
Jennifer Connelly	...	Emma Murdoch
Richard O'Brien	...	Mr Hand
Ian Richardson	...	Mr Book
Bruce Spence	...	Mr Wall
Colin Friels	...	Walenski
John Bluthal	...	Karl Harris
Mitchell Butel	...	Husselbeck
Melissa George	...	May
Frank Gallacher	...	Stromboli
Ritchie Singer	...	Hotel Manager / Vendor
Justin Monjo	...	Taxi Driver
Nicholas Bell	...	Mr Rain

Storyline

John Murdoch awakens alone in a strange hotel to find that he has lost his memory and is wanted for a series of brutal and bizarre murders. While trying to piece together his past, he stumbles upon a fiendish underworld controlled by a group of beings known as The Strangers who possess the ability to put people to sleep and alter the city and its inhabitants. Now Murdoch must find a way to stop them before they take control of his mind and destroy him.

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Plot Keywords:

neo noir | alien race | memory | experiment | beach | 

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Taglines:

They built the city to see what makes us tick. Last night one of us went off.

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Genres:

Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent images and some sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

(at around 50 mins) All of the fish in Neptune's Kingdom are Oscars.

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Goofs

(at around 60 mins) After John Murdoch opens the door and almost falls from the building, as he hangs by his hands the door is on his left, except when shown from above, when it is on his right.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dr. Schreber: [voiceover] First there was darkness. Then came the strangers. They were a race as old as time itself. They had mastered the ultimate technology. The ability to alter physical reality by will alone. They called this ability "Tuning". But they were dying. Their civilization was in decline, and so they abandoned their world seeking a cure for their own mortality. Their endless journey brought them to a small, blue world in the farthest corner of the galaxy. Our world. Here they ...

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Alternate Versions

The director's cut omits the opening monologue.

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Connections

References A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

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Soundtracks

Le Chale Bleu
Written by François Perchat (as Francois Perchat)
Sung by Anita Kelsey

User Reviews

Beautiful

Indeed the story is amazing, the neo noir atmosphere and neo-gothic sequences surpass anything one could imagine and the science fiction plot works and is original, but I was referring to Jennifer Connelly. Is there a more sexy woman playing a more vulnerable character than hers in this fabulous masterpiece? I don't think so. She is also completely frustrated and has an absentee husband. I am IN. She is a super slim, ravishing brunette with lips with a million dollars. Well done.

Details

Official Sites:

WarnerBros.com

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dark Empire

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$27,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,576,953, 1 March 1998

Gross USA:

$14,378,331

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$27,200,316

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mystery Clock Cinema, New Line Cinema

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 111 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1