Dark City

How had I never heard of this film before?

This was an absolute feast for the eyes in terms of atmosphere, set design and tone. I loved the neo-noir vibes, the sense of mystery and the philosophy behind it all. It has a few drawbacks. This is pre-Matrix, so there's way too many camera shots in the action, and Kiefer Sutherland's accent makes some of his expository dialogue a chore, even though the content is interesting.

To be clear, I watched the Director's Cut, which seems like the definitive way to watch the film after looking up the differences. Seriously, why explain the mystery at the start in voiceover? Did the studios not learn from Blade Runner?

If you're looking for a sci-fi film that's incredibly pretty and decently thoughtful, look no further. Dark City is a very fun, and quite dark ride.