"Dark City," a blend of film noir, comic book horror, and science fiction, presents a man—played by Rufus Sewell—who awakens one night to find himself embroiled in baffling circumstances. A nearby prostitute’s death leads to accusations against him, though his memory is fragmented. Throughout the night, he's sought after by various figures: a peculiar doctor portrayed by Kiefer Sutherland, a detective (William Hurt), his estranged wife (Jennifer Connelly), an enticing woman of the night (Melissa George), and a group of men with shaved heads dressed in black trench coats. He struggles to understand what’s happening and attempts to escape the perpetually dark city he inhabits. Alex Proyas' 1998 film unfolds entirely on detailed, shadowy sets enhanced by CGI backgrounds. I initially abandoned it after just twenty minutes, but if you’re receptive to its tone, it becomes an engaging science fiction movie with elements of noir and mystery/horror—one that provokes thought and avoids becoming a typical, predictable blockbuster. The reveals toward the film's conclusion are handled well. Sewell delivers a strong performance as the central character, and William Hurt is also effective. Some viewers have expressed reservations about Sutherland’s unusual portrayal, but I think the script demanded it. Regarding the female cast, Jennifer Connelly appears at a time when she possessed a more curvaceous and appealing figure—a quality that diminished somewhat after the early 2000s as she lost weight. Melissa George is beautiful in her smaller role as a call girl. My interest in "Dark City" was sparked by Roger Ebert's enthusiastic praise of the illusion of the city’s vastness, which was achieved through impressive CGI backgrounds and sets. While this isn't particularly remarkable today, it represented relatively new technology at the time. Comparisons to “The Matrix” are common, given their shared themes, and interestingly, "The Matrix" utilized some of the same sets; however, that film arrived over a year later in 1999. There’s also a resemblance to “Gattaca,” which premiered approximately four and a half months earlier in late 1997. “The Matrix” became a massive box office success whereas "Dark City" struggled despite its many strengths. I believe the characters could have benefited from more development, with greater emphasis on their personal lives—there's some of that, but not enough. Consequently, most audiences found the film strange, confusing, and lacking appeal. However, science fiction fans should appreciate it. It’s a better movie than “Gattaca,” though not quite as good as "The Matrix." The running time is 1 hour and 40 minutes; the Director's Cut adds an extra minute. Filming took place on sets in Sydney, Australia. GRADE: B-/B

Source on TMDB