Are you looking for a sci-fi movie with a mystery for the ages? What if there was one out there that ticked those boxes while boasting an all-star cast that includes Kiefer Sutherland and Jennifer Connelly? Well, we’re pleased to announce that Alex Proyas’ cult classic “Dark City” is the film for you, and it’s currently streaming for free on Tubi, Plex, and Sling TV.
While it’s one of the best alien invasion movies out there, “Dark City” isn’t a traditional one. Beings known as the Sleepers, they stop time every night and use their powers to swap the eponymous city’s architecture and alter the citizens’ memories. As such, the humans don’t know that they are part of one big extraterrestrial experiment. The film also takes cues from detective stories, film noir, and all-time great sci-fi movies like “Metropolis,” so fans of those genres will have a blast.
“Dark City” mostly centers around a character named John (Rufus Sewell) after he wakes up with no memory and is framed for murder. He sets out to get to the bottom of the mystery, eventually finding his wife, Emma (Connelly), and the truth behind the city — which is, quite literally, one of the darkest sci-fi universes out there, given that it’s always nighttime. Sutherland, meanwhile, plays a meek doctor who helps John along the way. Sadly, the movie bombed at the box office at the time, but time has been kind to Proyas’ effort.
Kiefer Sutherland’s thoughts on Dark City
Kiefer Sutherland’s character in “Dark City” is unlike Jack Bauer and other roles we associate him with. He’s always been a versatile performer, but Dr. Daniel P. Schreber is socially awkward and constantly nervous. Sutherland wanted the part as soon as he read the script, and he auditioned for Alex Proyas as soon as they met to discuss the project. Speaking to Collider, the actor also expressed gratitude for getting to play such a compelling character.
“Dark City will always hold a special place in my heart because I believe that, creatively, it approaches what I consider to be cinema, which is the highest art form of filmmaking, and that was because Alex did that with it.”
While it arguably isn’t as well-known as it should be, “Dark City” is easily one of the best sci-fi movies of the ’90s, and boasts both a memorable cast and a unique premise. Now that it’s available to stream for free, it’s the perfect time for more people to discover it for the first time.