Have you seen? A sci-fi masterpiece that, for many, is even better than The Matrix (and came much earlier) – Film News

Although this dystopia failed at the box office, it rightly received many positive reviews.

The question of what is real and what is not has a long tradition in science fiction. Films like The Matrix or Inception probably come to mind when thinking about this subject. But both were heavily influenced by City of Shadows, which was released a year before The Matrix.

Science fiction noir Alex Proyas’ dark film may have failed in theaters at the time, but over the years it has become a cult film that all fans of the genre should know.

What is the story of City of Shadows?

John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes up in the bathtub of a hotel room without remembering who he is. A phone call from a certain Dr. Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland) urges him to leave the hotel, as a group of people dressed in black, whom Schreber refers to as the Strangers, are after him. To make matters worse, Murdoch is also being pursued by the police, who believe him to be a serial killer.

During his escape, the protagonist discovers strange things. The city lives in a seemingly eternal night, the inhabitants fall into a deep sleep at certain times and Murdoch appears to have telekinetic powers. The only lead he can follow is a place called Shell Beach, which everyone in town seems to know about, but no one knows how to get there.

In terms of style, City of Shadows is reminiscent of German expressionist films, with strong references to film noir. The dystopia of a decaying city, in which a man needs to solve the mystery surrounding the city and his own identity, combines perfectly with the powerful images of an ever-changing scenario.

The plot itself is driven by Murdoch, who is searching for his identity. This quest is closely linked to the mysterious events taking place in the city. The question of whether he is, in fact, a serial killer is overshadowed by the town itself and the strangers.

The philosophical questions about what makes a person human, what identity is and what the role of memories is are always present, but never come to the surface. In contrast to films like The Matrix or Inception, in which there are entire dialogues about these issues, the focus of City of Shadows always remains on the plot and leaves the task of delving into these issues to the audience.

City of Shadows can be rented on platforms such as Prime Video, Google Play Movies and TV, YouTube and Apple TV+.

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