4k-UHD/Movie Review: Dark City (Limited Edition)

 

Dark City is a 1998 film starring Rufus Sewell, Jennifer Connelly, Kiefer Sutherland, William Hurt, Ian Richardson, and Richard O'Brien. It also features Colin Friels and Melissa George in supporting roles. It was directed by Proyas and written by Proyas, Lem Dobbs, and David S. Goyer. The movie was actually filmed in 1996, but got stuck in post-production and underwent extensive reshoots before it was finally released. The film is difficult to describe without giving too much away, but the basic plotline revolves around a man named John Murdoch (Sewell), who wakes up in a hotel bathtub with no memory of who he is or why he is there. After receiving a call from a doctor (Sutherland) telling him that someone is coming for him and to get out of the hotel now, he tries to piece his life together and while evading the police inspector (played by Hurt) trying to arrest him, reconnect with a wife he does not remember (Connelly), avoid a weird group of people called "The Strangers" who are after him, and trying to figure out what is going on in a strange city where the sun never comes up. 

The 4k set is a two-disc set released by Arrow Films in 2025, containing two UHD discs: one with the theatrical version of the film and one with the director's cut. The significant difference between the two is that the director's cut eliminates the voice-over that opens the theatrical version and reveals a substantial portion of the plot upfront. It also includes some deleted and extended scenes that add about 10 minutes to the runtime of the theatrical version. Each disc features bonus content, including multiple commentary tracks (five on the director's cut disc and two on the theatrical version disc), behind-the-scenes and making-of material, and the trailer. Most of the bonus content is archival material from the 2008 release, but a couple of commentary tracks and featurettes are new for this 2025 release. For example, the director's cut features a 2008 commentary track by Proyas and a 2025 commentary track. Each is very different. In the 2008 commentary, Proyas primarily focuses on describing the current scene, whereas his 2025 track is more of a retrospective on the movie, including the casting and filming process. In the 2025 commentary, he does not always discuss what is happening in the currently playing scene. The discs are held in a keep case that also includes a postcard from Shell Beach, Dr. Schreber's business card, a couple of art cards, and a poster. It also has a 60-page booklet with facts and commentary about the film. The keep case and booklet are held in a decorative outer box. The bonus material on the discs is very good. It would have been nice if Connelly and Sutherland had been included in the updated content (although one of the new bonus features does include Sewell).

The movie is difficult to categorize, as it blends genres. It combines horror, action, sci-fi, dystopian nightmare, and film noir elements. It is often compared to The Matrix, which was released a year after this one and overshadowed it. While there are definitely many similarities to The Matrix, this film tells a much different story. It is well-written and acted, and the story has some twists in it that are not predictable. It is not perfect, as it was a much lower-budget film than The Matrix, and Proyas had to make concessions with the story to get the movie made, which kept it from being exactly what he wanted. Ultimately, it is a very good and very underrated film that got lost in the shuffle after The Matrix became a huge hit. It is absolutely worth watching.