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movie review - Dark City

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

This is a grim sci-fi piece about a man struggling to piece together his own identity and life. That he struggles is not surprising, since he's living in a world concocted by some strange others that seem to be observing his thrashing around. With serious memory problems, no friends, and a bleak and hostile urban environment that more and more feels like a maze, the paranoia and dread build on our man until things reach a breaking point. Everything about this thing is engaging, the story, the characters, the horrifying sets and the way everything is not what it seems. They could have done with a bit more show and less tell in a few places, but by the time we understand what is happening it all comes together in a strong ending. I really liked that they didn't show the main characters coming out into some sort of pat situation with their primary problems solved. Actually, it hints that their victory leaves them in an untenable situation.

Strongly recommended.