‘Dark City’ 4K UHD Review (Arrow Video)
Stars: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, Richard O’Brien, Ian Richardson, Bruce Spence, Colin Friels, John Bluthal, Mitchell Butel, Melissa George, Frank Gallacher, Ritchie Singer, Nicholas Bell, Satya Gumbert, Frederick Miragliotta | Written by Alex Proyas, Lem Dobbs, David S. Goyer | Directed by Alex Proyas
The name David S. Goyer may not be the most recognisable to mainstream cinema audiences, but he is responsible for the screenplays for some of the best superhero scripts in our time. He wrote the Blade trilogy (1998–2004), Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy (2005–2012), Man of Steel (2013), and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). He also wrote The Crow: City of Angels (1996), Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) and Hellraiser (2022).
However, in 1998 David Goyer wrote, along with Alex Proyas and Lem Dobbs, a tech noir film unlike anything the world had seen up to this point. And 27 years after this film’s theatrical release, Arrow Video has given Dark City a 4K UltraHD release.
John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes in a hotel bathtub with no memory of who he is or how he got there, but there’s a body on the floor with bloody spirals carved into the flesh and a voice on the phone that tells him to flee. Soon Murdoch is on the run, wanted by the police, a woman who claims to be his wife, and a group of mysterious pale men who seem to control everyone and everything in the city… except him.
Dark City is a visual experience with a thought-provoking storyline. The film is not without its flaws, of course, but it is an entertaining little sci-fi thriller. The film has a stunning cast of recognisable faces, including Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys), William Hurt (A History of Violence), Jennifer Connelly (Phenomena), and Richard O’Brien (The Rocky Horror Picture Show).
Arrow Video has transferred Dark City to 4K in 2160p and presented it in the original 2.39:1 aspect ratio. There are four audio tracks to choose from – English: Dolby Atmos, A Dolby TrueHD 7.1, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Now this isn’t just any 4K transfer. This transfer is taken from a brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negatives approved by director of photography Dariusz Wolski. The film has never looked as crisp and clean as it does now! Another great restoration from Arrow Video. But that’s not all, take a look at the amazing bonus features included:
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 phot
- 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
Arrow Video gave us two versions of this film, with five (!) audio commentaries, including one from the legendary critic Roger Ebert. It’s all very impressive stuff! There are even documentaries and essays. But even all this is not all that is included in this massive set, as there are some physical bonuses that are really cool! Take a look:
- 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’s business card
Arrow Video never ceases to amaze me with the amount of cool bonus features they put into their releases. Tons of on-disc bonus features and then all the cool artwork. I love the fold-out posters, postcards and booklets. These take a really nice release to a whole other level of cool!
***** 5/5
If you love Sci-fi/Thrillers of the 1990s, this new 4k edition of Dark City should be on your must-buy list. The film comes to 4K UHD on June 24th.
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