john mudoch ( rufus sewell ) awake in a bathtub completely naked and with blood drip down his forehead and unaware of what be happen and he remember nothing . in the next room he find a dead body and a blood stain knife . what follow be john try to piece together what be happen to him and what he unravel be one of the great science fiction story ever put to film . there be a group call the stranger who have an ability to physically change surroundings of them and the people live in the city and they call this ability tune . they soon discover that john also have this ability and which be impossible a it would take a normal human a few lifetime to gain the ability to tune . thats the most i can tell without give away major plot point . the movie be set in a 1940ish look city where detective be hunt john and along with the mysterious stranger . the tall building and the knowledge that the stranger could be anywhere in the city give a menacing ambiance and heighten the tension in the movie and give off a great effect on the viewer . the special effect in dark city be stun and realistic and especially when certain character use tune . rufus sewell give a good performance a john murdoch and though i couldnt help feeling he be hold back somewhat . i could think of a few other actor who could have give a much good performance but he be generally good . kiefer sunderland a dr. daniel schreber be very good and seem to have put all of his effort into his character and it quite an unusual role for sunderland but he pull it off pretty well . another performance worth mentioning be richard obrien a mr hand and he give a genuinely creepy performance a one of the main stranger and i thought i would see him and think crystal maze through all of his scene but he do a pretty good job of play a convincing character . overall the movie leave a few unanswered question and leave the viewer to conduct their own theory about the outcome of event . i have a good grasp of the story a a whole but some people will find bit and piece confuse . a great film anyways and i give it an 8 because it tend to drag in some spot and but the end make up for all doubt .