Release date: 1998
Cast: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, William Hurt, Jennifer Connelly, Richard O’Brien
Director: Alex Proyas
Writers: Alex Proyas (story), Lem Dobbs (screenplay), David S. Goyer (screenplay)
Genre: Sci-fi, mystery, fantasy
Trippy graphics, psychokinesis, aliens, and a seemingly never-ending night, our Dark City review explores the captivating world of the 1998 cult classic. Find out why it’s a visual masterpiece and an excellent choice to watch when you’re stoned.
Dark City is a spell-binding adventure reminiscent of Twilight Zone and expressionist film noir. It transports you into an alternate reality that leaves you questioning your existence.
Gorgeous architecture, strange creatures, and a mysterious murder make for an unforgettable stoner flick.
Light up the buds from your harvest of Tahoe Kush seeds and prepare to enter the city that sees no sunlight.
Dark City Plot Summary
John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes up in a seedy hotel bathtub without any recollection of who he is. Dr. Daniel Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland) phones him and urgently advises him to leave, as a group of extraterrestrials known as “Strangers” is hunting him.
To make John’s situation worse, there’s a dead woman in his room, and he’s the primary suspect. Inspector Frank Bumstead (William Hurt) is also pursuing him, convinced that he’s responsible for a string of grisly murders.
Murdoch finds himself exploring the streets as he tries to evade the host of characters chasing him. Something strange is happening across the city: It’s always nighttime, and no one seems to notice except John.
When the clock strikes 12, everyone but Murdoch falls asleep. The reality of the situation unfolds as he sees the Strangers taking control of the city and manipulating people’s memories and identities.
As the movie progresses, you learn the sinister plans these Strangers have for the city’s people. You witness John discovering his true identity, reuniting with his wife, Emma (Jennifer Connely), and using psychokinesis to fight the aliens.
We won’t spoil too much for you in this Dark City review.
Will Inspector Bumstead catch up to Murdoch? What does Dr. Schreber know? Discover all the secrets of the Dark City as the film transports you through a riveting journey you won’t soon forget.
A Movie to Blow Your Stoned Mind
There are a vast number of sci-fi movies to watch while you’re stoned, but Dark City is a top option. Director Alex Proyas creates a visually stimulating world that makes you feel like you’re dreaming.
Here are the most mind-bending parts of the movie that stand out among stoners and are guaranteed to blow your mind:
- A transforming city: Throughout the film, you see buildings, lights, and signs shifting and changing as if the city is a living being. Is it a figment of John’s imagination, or are deeper forces at work?
- An entire population in a coma: Imagine leaving your house and discovering that almost everyone around you is asleep. That’s what happens to John, and it’s up to him to try to wake his fellow citizens from their comatose states.
- Mysterious men: The aliens visiting Dark City have to inhabit the bodies of several humans to conduct their experiments. Oddly, most of the Strangers’ hosts are pale men in trench coats. Freaky stuff.
- Existential questions: As Murdoch traverses the city, he starts questioning his existence. What does it mean to be human? Can you reignite a romance if you can’t remember the person who’s in love with you?
Marijuana has a way of opening our minds to deep questions. Getting stoned or consuming CBD to enhance your movie-watching experience ignites the sparks of your imagination.
- Trippy visuals: Alex Proyas ensured viewers would experience something different when he directed the film. The suspenseful atmosphere, alternating color schemes, and deep-focus compositions provide a truly hypnotizing viewing experience.
Enjoy a Lesser-Known Sci-Fi Gem
If you enjoyed reading our Dark City review, you’ll love the movie. Light up a blunt of your favorite strain and prepare for a trippy story you won’t soon forget. The 1998 classic is a lesser-known sci-fi gem that every stoner should watch.
John Murdoch’s tale is shrouded in mystery and an extraterrestrial plot that leaves you questioning reality. Do you dare to enter the Dark City and uncover its secrets?
