Sometimes a movie comes along with a refreshingly original plotline, spectacular visual effects that still look impressive today, a great cast, and even receives kudos from critics, but still bombs at the box office. “Dark City” is one such movie.

“Dark City” is directed by Alex Proyas, with its screenplay provided by Alex Proyas, Lem Dobbs, and David S. Goyer. The movie’s spectacular cinematography is provided by Dariusz Wolski. Film noirs come in many flavors, and “Dark City” is a sci-fi film noir. With Rufus Sewell, William Hurt, Kiefer Sutherland, and Jennifer Connelly in the lead roles, the plot is set in a dark, sinister, and anachronistic city. The premise of the plot revolves around a dying alien civilization with a hive mind discovering Earth and experimenting with humans to find a path for its survival.

A hive mind, featured in many science fiction books and novels, involves multiple minds linked to a common consciousness. The aliens are referred to as the “Strangers.” The movie opens with a mysterious, spectacled man (Kevin Sutherland), clad in a trench coat and hat, ambling through the dark city with a pronounced limp. This man is later revealed to be Dr. Daniel Schreber, who proclaims that he has betrayed the human race.

Elsewhere, a man (Sewell) wakes up in a bathtub of a hotel with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As he explores the adjoining room, he discovers the corpse of a dead woman who appears to have been murdered in a ritualistic fashion.

When he answers a ringing telephone, Dr. Schreber tells him to flee immediately. The man learns that his name is John Murdoch and that he has a wife named Emma. He also finds a postcard with a picture of a local place called “Shell Beach.” John heeds Schreber’s warning and departs the scene in a hurry.

A group of strange men, later revealed to be the ‘Strangers’, appear at the hotel looking for him. Not finding Murdoch, the men leave. Police Inspector Frank Bumstead, who is on the trail of a serial killer, arrives at the scene and discovers the corpse of the dead woman.

Murdoch locates Emma (Connelly), who is a singer. Emma tells John that he was upset with her shortly before he lost his memory, as she had been unfaithful to him.

John then begins his journey to retrace his past. For this, he must go to the enigmatic Shell Beach. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game across the enigmatic city between John, the Strangers who see him as a solution to their predicament, and the police. The rest of the plot features chases, fights, spectacular special effects, and mind-blowing revelations leading to a dramatic and thrilling climax.

John soon realizes that Dark City is devoid of sunlight. He also realizes that the Strangers have been experimenting with mixing and matching bodies and minds, and even the design of the city, to find a way to survive. Besides, while most of the city’s inhabitants are familiar with Shell Beach, nobody knows where it is. Is Dr. Schreber a friend or foe? Is there a way out of the surrounding darkness, and most importantly, can humanity be saved from the fiendish aliens? The rest of the plot answers these questions.

The movie, like the city in its plot, is possibly an anachronism that was made before its time. Filmed in Fox Studios in Australia, it boasts elaborate sets and impressive special effects beyond its time. The cinematography of darkness, the shadowy characters, and the theme all make it a very different neo-noir movie. Besides the movie’s screenplay and cinematography, the acting performances are also noteworthy. Go ahead and watch this movie. Let us give this effort the respect it deserves. This movie is a visual treat!