Dark City: A Fascinating Combination of Sci-Fi, Mystery, and Film Noir (Limited Edition Blu-ray)

The Film:

Alex Proyas' "Dark City" has had a rather fascinating reputation ever since it came out way back in 1998. It did somewhat poorly at the box office and the reviews were not particularly great at the time, with the film's reception being mixed at best, but there were a few publications/critics that championed the film, including The Washington Post, Time, and most notably, Roger Ebert, who named it the best film of the year (beating out heavy-hitters like "Shakespeare in Love" and "Saving Private Ryan").

As far as the general public goes, the film became something of a cult hit that built up a loyal following of fans, giving it the admiration that it didn't receive upon its initial release. To celebrate this fan-favorite, Arrow Films is releasing a new Limited Edition set that includes both the Director's Cut and Theatrical Cut of the film, as well as tons of new & archival special features, so let's dive into this sci-fi classic to see how well it holds up nearly three decades later.

As the film opens, John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) awakens in a hotel bathtub and can't remember anything. He receives a call from Dr. Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland) urging him to flee the room because a group of people are coming to get him, but before he does, he notices the body of a murdered woman and a bloody knife. He escapes just before the odd people, known as "The Strangers," arrive, and goes about trying to remember who he is. He is able to learn his name and that he has a wife, but when he is confronted by another group of Strangers, he also discovers that he has an ability known as "Tuning" that allows him to alter reality and escape his current predicament.

We learn that the Strangers also have this ability, and that they use it to alter the city, in addition to altering the memories of its inhabitants with the help of Dr. Schreber. Meanwhile, Police Inspector Bumstead (William Hurt) is on John's trail as a suspect in a series of murders, but also comes to feel that something is not quite right in this city, eventually causing him to team up with John and John's "wife," Emma (Jennifer Connelly), to try and figure out the mystery behind the Strangers and their experiments.

"Dark City" is an intriguing blend of science fiction and film noir elements that seeks to explore the very nature of the human soul (i.e. what makes us human), delving into its subject via a compelling mystery about a man trying to piece his life back together. Making it even more alluring is its gorgeous & atmospheric production design, which as we learn is actually a rather important piece of the Strangers' experiments, so giving this city a dark, moody, and somewhat puzzling nature was a most vital task, one that production designers George Liddle and Patrick Tatopoulos & art directors Richard Hobbs and Michelle McGahey were certainly up to. All of this, plus an exceptional cast that includes Emmy/SAG nominee Rufus Sewell, Oscar winner William Hurt, Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly, and Emmy winner Kiefer Sutherland, makes "Dark City" a rather captivating experience... that is, for the most part.

If there's any major flaw to be found in this fascinating exploration of humanity, it would be the somewhat messy third act, which culminates in a rather silly climactic confrontation between John and the Strangers. It's a slightly disappointing way to wrap up what had been a pretty gripping mystery, and while it doesn't hurt the film too much overall, it certainly seems like there could've been a much better way to bring the film to a close than having our protagonist flying about and using telekinesis to fight the enemy.

Overall, "Dark City" remains quite an intriguing little film that didn't deserve to be shoved aside and ignored upon its original release. It may have some problems with its finale, but this was a rather ambitious work that's mostly successful at accomplishing what it set out to do, and with Arrow Films' new Limited Edition release, there's no better time to discover its gripping mystery for the first time or to relive its delightful weirdness yet again.

Video/Audio:

The Limited Edition Blu-ray comes with both the Director's Cut and the Theatrical Cut of the film, presented in 2.39:1, 1080p High Definition transfers of excellent quality. This is an extremely dark film throughout its entire duration, but the new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negatives, approved by DP Dariusz Wolski, has it looking beautifully sharp & clear. Likewise, the 7.1 & 5.1 DTS-HD MA and 2.0 Stereo audio tracks are fantastic, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and music in outstanding quality. Overall, Arrow Films has done a wonderful job restoring the film in both areas for this new release.

Special Features:

Disc 1: Director's Cut

Commentary by Director Alex Proyas (New)

Commentary by Craig Anderson, Bruce Isaacs, and Herschel Isaacs, co-hosts of the Film Versus Film podcast (New)

Commentary by Director Alex Proyas

Commentary by Film Critic Roger Ebert

Commentary by writers Lem Dobbs and David S. Goyer

Return to Dark City (59 Minutes) (New)

Rats in a Maze (15 Minutes) (New)

I'm as Much in the Dark as You Are (20 Minutes) (New)

Designs & Storyboards (14 Minutes)

Disc 2: Theatrical Cut

Commentary by director Alex Proyas, writers Lem Dobbs & David S. Goyer, director of photography Dariusz Wolski, and production designer Patrick Tatopoulos

Commentary by Film Critic Roger Ebert

Memories of Shell Beach (43 Minutes)

Architecture of Dreams (34 Minutes)

This new Limited Edition Blu-ray comes with a wealth of special features that includes a multitude of commentary tracks, a pair of in-depth making ofs, and a few featurettes that explore the themes of the film. There is definitely more than enough fantastic & informative material here for any fan of the film to get lost in.

Conclusion:

Alex Proyas' "Dark City" is a fascinating combination of science fiction and film noir elements that seeks to explore what makes us human. It may have a few problems with its third act, primarily with its silly final confrontation, but the film remains mostly successful in what it sets out to do, making it worth a watch for anyone looking for an intriguing mystery with rather ambitious aspirations.

Score: 3.5/5

Available on Limited Edition Blu-ray starting today.

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