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IMDbPro

Dark City

  • 19981998
  • RR
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
203K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,998
290
Rufus Sewell in Dark City (1998)
Trailer for Dark City
Play trailer2:14
2 Videos
99+ Photos
FantasyMysterySci-Fi
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
203K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,998
290
    • Alex Proyas
    • Alex Proyas(story)
    • Lem Dobbs(screenplay)
    • David S. Goyer(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Rufus Sewell
    • Kiefer Sutherland
    • Jennifer Connelly
    • Alex Proyas
    • Alex Proyas(story)
    • Lem Dobbs(screenplay)
    • David S. Goyer(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Rufus Sewell
    • Kiefer Sutherland
    • Jennifer Connelly
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 759User reviews
    • 211Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos2

    Dark City
    Trailer 2:14
    Watch Dark City
    Dark City
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Dark City

    Photos124

    Jennifer Connelly and Richard O'Brien in Dark City (1998)
    Kiefer Sutherland in Dark City (1998)
    Dark City (1998)
    Kiefer Sutherland in Dark City (1998)
    William Hurt in Dark City (1998)
    Rufus Sewell in Dark City (1998)
    Kiefer Sutherland and Richard O'Brien in Dark City (1998)
    Kiefer Sutherland in Dark City (1998)
    Ian Richardson and Paul Livingston in Dark City (1998)
    Dark City (1998)
    William Hurt in Dark City (1998)
    Rufus Sewell in Dark City (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rufus Sewell
    Rufus Sewell
    • John Murdoch
    Kiefer Sutherland
    Kiefer Sutherland
    • Dr Daniel Schreber
    Jennifer Connelly
    Jennifer Connelly
    • Emma Murdoch
    William Hurt
    William Hurt
    • Inspector Frank Bumstead
    Richard O'Brien
    Richard O'Brien
    • Mr Hand
    Ian Richardson
    Ian Richardson
    • Mr Book
    Bruce Spence
    Bruce Spence
    • Mr Wall
    Colin Friels
    Colin Friels
    • Walenski
    John Bluthal
    John Bluthal
    • Karl Harris
    Mitchell Butel
    Mitchell Butel
    • Husselbeck
    Melissa George
    Melissa George
    • May
    Frank Gallacher
    • Stromboli
    Ritchie Singer
    Ritchie Singer
    • Hotel Manager…
    Justin Monjo
    • Taxi Driver
    Nicholas Bell
    Nicholas Bell
    • Mr Rain
    Satya Gumbert
    • Mr Sleep
    Noah Gumbert
    • Mr Sleep Filming Double
    Frederick Miragliotta
    Frederick Miragliotta
    • Mr Quick
      • Alex Proyas
      • Alex Proyas(story) (screenplay)
      • Lem Dobbs(screenplay)
      • David S. Goyer(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A number of pieces of the set, including those used for the rooftop chase, were sold to the production of The Matrix (1999) at the end of shooting.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 5 mins) When the glass partition is broken, a second sheet of glass is used to protect Jennifer Connelly. At slow speeds, John's hand is clearly visible reflected in this safety glass.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Schreber: I call them the Strangers. They abducted us and brought us here. This city, everyone in it... is their experiment. They mix and match our memories as they see fit, trying to divine what makes us unique. One day, a man might be an inspector. The next, someone entirely different. When they want to study a murderer, for instance, they simply imprint one of their citizens with a new personality. Arrange a family for him, friends, an entire history... even a lost wallet. Then they observe the results. Will a man, given the history of a killer, continue in that vein? Or are we, in fact, more than the sum of our memories?

    • Crazy credits
      There are two different Panavision credits used: the "Camera Equipment: Panavision" credit, and after that, the "Filmed in Panavision" credit with "Lenses & Cameras by" above it, despite being shot in Super 35.
    • Alternate versions
      The director's cut omits the opening monologue.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Palmetto/Senseless/Dangerous Beauty/Mrs. Dalloway/Nil by Mouth/Live Flesh (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Le Chale Bleu
      Written by François Perchat (as Francois Perchat)

      Sung by Anita Kelsey

    User reviews759

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    I think Alex Proyas had a stroke of genius in the making of this movie. One of the most original dark sci-fi movies I've seen in a long time.
    John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes up in an eerie hotel, naked and in the bathtub, with no memories and blood on his forehead. (I couldn't imagine a more strange and frightening experience.) The ring of the hotel phone breaks the silence-- a strange man on the other end tells him he must leave because there are people looking for him. Many events such as this one unfold in Dark City, where "man has no past... and humanity has no future".

    Dark City has been passed over by so many critics it's depressing. I think that it should at least have been up for "original screenplay" or SOMETHING at the Oscars to reward Alex Proyas for his fantastic vision. I fail to see why so many people label this movie "noir" like it's BAD or something. Being dark and twisted is not a crime, and despite some other people's comments, this movie is NOT just for the trenchcoat-wearing masses (or if it is, maybe the rest of you can learn something from Goths). If you like sci-fi, dark plots and having reality be so well distorted that you don't realize it IS, so you will love Dark City. (People who have seen the Matrix BEFORE this movie MUST see it, it is very similar in these three respects).

    I gave it a 9 out of 10 ONLY because I thought the ending fight scene was a bit weak. Great for a fight scene, but because the rest of the movie focuses on John Murdoch's quest to discover his past and the eerie, ominous happenings in the city, the climax seemed hastily thrown together, as if the crew all of a sudden remembered they had a deadline to meet and could no longer continue the plot in the previous fashion.

    The visuals in this movie were absolutely stunning. The effects were NOT used to substitute for the plot, like other movies such as Starship Troopers, Lost in Space and Alien: Resurrection. They were used only as needed and were breathtaking. The editing is NOT as choppy as is rumored, it only lends to the power of the movie. There are some heart-stopping images in Dark City. Watch for the Strangers' clock, views of the city and John's memories.

    Proyas takes ideas and ambience from many other movies but integrates them all neatly into Dark City. Gotham City is clearly seen as is Metropolis and other influences such as Ed Hopper's "Nighthawks" dominate in the diner scenes. The forty-ish era (yet strangely futuristic) city is known to be populated, and yet it is ominously empty (hence one of Hopper's main themes, isolation in large cities). (It's especially quiet at midnight, hehehehe... ;D ) This 40's era ambience together with the sci-fi fantasy undercurrent makes for a very interesting feeling while watching.

    I'm happy that Kiefer Sutherland, Richard O'Brien (of Rocky Horror fame) and William Hurt agreed to do this movie, it gave Dark City just that much more validation in the USA (I wish things weren't like this, but they are). Kiefer Sutherland is absolutely wonderful and convincing as the doctor/scientist Dr.Schreber, and Rufus Sewell is a properly confused yet determined John Murdoch. Many critics say that William Hurt's character, the detective, and Jennifer Connelly's Emma Murdoch could have used a little more development, but I think part of the point of Dark City was that you don't really know who people are (not to mention yourself). Richard O'Brien and his character's whole race creep me out every time I see the movie, but he's especially frightening and a strange character. I had to resist the urge to talk like a Stranger after seeing the movie a few times.

    Trevor Jones, one of my favorite movie composers, did the score for Dark City, and I must say it's very apropo. The deep, bass vocals and frantic themes are some of my favorite aspects, but "Memories of Shell Beach" is a haunting, beautiful song as well. Some of my other favorite scores by him are the Dark Crystal and Last of the Mohicans.

    Altogether, I think Alex Proyas had a stroke of genius in the making of this movie. One of the most original dark sci-fi movies I've seen in a long time. It deserves its place with the Matrix, 12 Monkeys and others, pioneers in a field so changed (usually for the worse) since Star Wars and since earlier sci-fi classics. I hope these won't be the last of a (dare I say it?) dying race of movies that have true creativity and originality.
    helpful•460
    56
    • nitehawk-8
    • Jun 15, 1999

    FAQ9

    • Is 'Dark City' based on a book?
    • What Roman mythological elements are found in the film?
    • How do I solve the "To Shell Beach..." game on the DVD?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 27, 1998 (United States)
      • Australia
      • United States
      • WarnerBros.com
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Museum Underground Station, Hyde Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
    • Production companies
      • Mystery Clock Cinema
      • New Line Cinema
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 40 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS

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