The question of what is real and what is not has a long tradition in science fiction. Nowadays, when you think of this topic, you primarily think of films like The Matrix or Inception. But both were strongly influenced by Dark City, which appeared a year before The Matrix. The dark sci-fi noir by Alex Proyas may have flopped in the cinema, but over the years it has become a cult film that all genre fans should know.
Dark City can now be seen in a flat rate on Amazon Prime Video.
A city full of secrets – that’s what the sci-fi film Dark City is about
John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes up in the bathtub of a hotel room. He has no memories of who he is. A call from a certain Dr. Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland) urges him to leave the hotel. A group of people dressed in black, the Schrebers as the Strange are after him. To make matters worse, Murdoch is also being hunted by the police, who believe he is a serial killer.
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Dark City
On the run, Murdoch discovers strange things. The city lies in seemingly eternal night, the residents fall at certain times at the same time into a deep sleep and Murdoch appears to have telekinetic powers. The only clue Murdoch can follow is a place called Shell Beach, which everyone in town seems to know, but no one knows how to get to.
The dark sci-fi noir Dark City relies on style and lets the substance work in the background
Stylistically, Dark City is reminiscent of the Films of German Expressionism, with strong borrowings from film noir. The dystopia of a dilapidated city in which a man must solve the mystery of the city and his own identity combines naturally with the powerful images of an ever-changing backdrop.
The plot itself is driven forward by John Murdoch searching for his identity. This search is closely linked to the mysterious events taking place in the city. The question whether John is actually a serial killeris overshadowed by the city itself and the strangers.
The philosophical question of what makes a person, what identity is and what role memories play is always present, but never comes to the fore. In contrast to films like The Matrix or Inception, in which entire dialogues are about the questions, the focus of Dark City always remains the plot and leaves its audience to pursue these questions further.
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