Once a box office bomb but now a celebrated cult classic in its own right, Alex Proyas’s Dark City (1998) gives its audience the best of both worlds in its genre-bending plot — dystopian science fiction mixed with detective noir. The film follows John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell), an amnesiac who wakes up in a strange city and finds himself suspected of murder. As he evades a sharp police inspector (William Hurt) and tries to reconnect his identity with his worried spouse (Jennifer Connelly), he finds himself at battle with a ghastly mysterious group of villains called the Strangers. Dark City is known as much for its ingenious construction as what influenced it and what it has influenced since. Stepping onto the scene about a year before its more-celebrated successor The Matrix, the film is a celebration of postmodernism storytelling (“[the] reconciling of past and future,” as co-writer Lem Dobbs (The Limey) puts it in one of the featurettes). As it fuses its polished past (1930s or such) with its anxiety-ridden present (the ‘90s and beyond), the effect is a dazzling, inventive adventure of storytelling and world building.

DARK CITY Blu-ray open packshot. Photo courtesy of Arrow Video.

Dark City has all the best elements of sci-fi and noir: amnesic protagonist John Murdoch, “mad scientist” Dr. Daniel Schreber (a fantastic Keifer Sutherland, in one of his more idiosyncratic performances), damsel in distress Emma Murdoch (Jennifer Connelly), cynical Inspector Bumstead (William Hurt), and the monstrous “hive mind” Strangers. Its classical characterizations also have layers of depth within the performances. Taking the lead role, Rufus Sewell (A Knight’s Tale) plays the amnesic role well. He carries relatability to the audience as someone who does not know what the hell is going on (or how to use his “ability”) while also delivering an effective performance of a man trying to find the truth. It’s both a preset for characters like Neo from The Matrix and an ode to characters like Rick Deckard from Blade Runner — postmodern not just in its construction, but its eventual influence. William Hurt (The Incredible Hulk) also leaves an impression as the cynical but focused Inspector Bumstead (another ode to Deckard but also primarily an ode to novelist Dashiel Hammett’s Sam Spade). His presence is recognizable as the “detective” of the story but never feels out of place within this dystopian world. Hurt delivers the cynicism well while also making himself a great scene partner alongside Sewell and Connelly as he finds himself on the same hunt for truth within this strange “dark city”. Then there are the Strangers themselves — Richard O’Brien (The Rocky Horror Picture Show), Ian Richardson (Brazil), and Bruce Spence (The Matrix Revolutions) all give effectively creepy performances as members of the evil group of world-crafters. Every time they’re on screen, they command the audience’s attention as they plan their next scheme to catch the elusive Murdoch.

As much as it is revered for its impeccable production design (courtesy of Patrick Tatopoulos (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) and George Liddle (Daybreakers)), great world-building mythology, and stylized action sequences, the 1998 original cut of the film suffers from an editing problem. The plot is scattered and the story seems a bit unfocused. However, with this updated Blu-ray from Arrow Video, fans now have the option to watch the original version or Alex Proyas’s 2008 director’s cut in a 4K digital restoration. The director’s cut is a great improvement over the original as the exposition voiceover from Kiefer Sutherland (put in at New Line Cinema’s request as they were worried audiences wouldn’t understand the plot — I know, ‘90s problems) is removed. Scenes are added to bring depth to the characters, the plot is given room to breathe, and the editing is smooth and focused. In other words, it’s now less of a studio-made picture and more of a dazzling auteur piece.

DARK CITY Blu-ray reversible liner. Photo courtesy of Arrow Video.

This two-disc Blu-ray release from Arrow Video comes with a pack of supplements any noir fan would love. There’s a gorgeous restoration from the original 35 mm camera negatives (approved by director of photography Dariusz Wolski (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl)); a variety of audio commentaries from director Proyas (The Crow), writers Lem Dobbs and David S. Goyer (Batman Begins), and critic Roger Ebert; three featurettes centered around the making of the film; a visual essay by film scholar Josh Nelson; a 60-page perfect bound collectors book and much more. Arrow Video went all out on the release and, for any fans of tech noir, detective fiction, or any kind of science fiction, purchasing this release is a no-brainer.

Dark City Blu-ray Special Features:

• Brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negatives approved by director of photography Dariusz Wolski
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of both the Director’s Cut and Theatrical Cut of the film
• Original DTS-HD MA 5.1, stereo 2.0, and 7.1 audio options for both cuts of the film
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• 60-page perfect bound collectors book featuring new writing by author Richard Kadrey, and film critics Sabina Stent, Virat Nehru, and Martyn Pedler
• Limited edition packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by Doug John Miller
• Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Doug John Miller
• Three postcard-sized reproduction art cards
• Postcard from Shell Beach
• Dr. Schreber business card

Disc 1: Director’s Cut

• Brand new audio commentary by director Alex Proyas
• Brand new audio commentary with Craig Anderson, Bruce Isaacs, and Herschel Isaacs, co-hosts of the Film Versus Film podcast
• Archive audio commentary by director Alex Proyas
• Archive audio commentary by film critic Roger Ebert
• Archive audio commentary by writers Lem Dobbs and David S. Goyer
• Archive introduction by Alex Proyas
• Return to Dark City, a new hour-long documentary featuring interviews with director Alex Proyas, producer Andrew Mason, production designers Patrick Tatopoulos and George Liddle, costume designer Liz Keough, storyboard artist Peter Pound, director of photography Dariusz Wolski, actor Rufus Sewell, hair & makeup artist Leslie Vanderwalt, and VFX creative director Peter Doyle
• Rats in a Maze, a new visual essay by film scholar Alexandra West
• I’m as Much in the Dark as You Are, a new visual essay by film scholar Josh Nelson on film noir and identity in Dark City
• Design & Storyboards

Disc 2: Theatrical Cut

• Archive audio commentary by director Alex Proyas, writers Lem Dobbs & David S. Goyer, director of photography Dariusz Wolski, and production designer Patrick Tatopoulos
• Archive audio commentary by film critic Roger Ebert
• Memories of Shell Beach, a 2008 featurette in which cast and crew look back at the making of the film from concept to reception
• Architecture of Dreams, a 2008 featurette presenting five perspectives on the themes and meanings of the film
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery

Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray June 24^th, 2025.

For more information, head to the official Arrow Video Dark City webpage.
To purchase, head to the official MVD Entertainment Group Dark City webpage.

Categories: Home Release, Recommendation

Tags: Alex Proyas, Arrow Video, Bruce Spence, Colin Friels, Dark City, David S. Goyer, Frank Gallacher, home release, home video, Ian Richardson, Jennifer Connelly, John Bluthal, Kiefer Sutherland, Lem Dobbs, Melissa George, Mitchell Butel, MVD Entertainment Group, mystery, Mystery Clock Cinema, New Line Cinema, Nicholas Bell, Richard O'Brien, Ritchie Singer, Rufus Sewell, Satya Gumbert, science fiction, Warner Bros. Pictures, William Hurt