Special Effects in Dark City

954 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Why is mise en scene important to a film

Dark City, directed by Alex Proya, is a sci-fi thriller full of visually extravagant and atmospheric special effects. The film illustrates a metropolis where its human inhabitants are always engulfed in the nightlife darkness because the sun does not exist. The city is controlled by extraterrestrials known as the Strangers, who disguise themselves as humans and are devoted to researching the human race via manipulation and experimentation. Dark City has a shadowy tone and comic book feel, which is reflected by all the film elements used by Proya. Working with the gloomy visuals, peculiar audio, abnormal camera angles and with many other filming techniques, Proya allows the audience to recognize that the film is dark in its nature. A critical factor of portraying this message is the mise-en-scene. Proya uses mise-en-scene to construct meaning, keep the audience off guard, and to generate a response by allowing them to empathize with the emotions of the characters.

This is immediately noticeable in the opening sequence of the film when the character of Doctor Shrieber is introduced. In the first several minutes, the audience is exposed to a series of scenes consisting of mise-en-scene elements that point to the character's frame of mind, emotions and possibly their final destiny. For instance, Shreiber opens his pocket-watch and the camera zooms in to show a close up of its face. Next, chaotic music starts playing and the view of cityscape is revealed with cars, subways, and the large crowds of people constantly moving. Suddenly, the hands on the pocket-watch indicate its midnight and everything in the city abruptly comes to a halt. The rail transportation and automobiles roll to a complete stop and the city’s residents fall asleep...

... middle of paper ...

... such as, upright flying, teeth grinding, and phlegmatic movements also add to the horror feeling. Their appearance can be described as having a very pale skin tone with sharp teeth, and their attire usually consists of long black coats, gloves, and Homburg hats. The clothing and characteristics Proyas provided to the Strangers helps develop the wickedness that surrounds them.

Works Cited

• "Dark City :: Rogerebert.com :: Great Movies." Rogerebert.com :: Movie Reviews, Essays and the Movie Answer Man from Film Critic Roger Ebert. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. .

• Lippe, By Adam. "Dark City." A Regrettable Moment of Sincerity. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. .

• Mise En Scène - Windows Live. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. .

Show More
Related

  • Diversity In The Outsiders

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Outsider characters Edward and Raphael from the movie ‘Edward Scissorhands’ and the novel ‘Trash’ change their bland and featureless environments by providing creativity and ambition to the locals. Edward is an Outsider by his appearance while Raphael is an Outsider by poverty. Their communities express kindness to them both. Both individual characters do not act in the way the inhabitants of the society or slum. This is positive for the community and the creativity of the Outsiders change their

    Read More

  • A Tense Atmosphere in the Opening Scenes of The Matrix

    558 Words  | 2 Pages

    to the film early on but makes the viewer want to make sense of what

    Read More

  • Movie Analysis: The Gangs of New York

    1600 Words  | 4 Pages

    Gallman, J. Matthew. "Gangs Of New York (Film)." Journal Of American History 90.3 (2003): 1124-1126. America: History and Life with Full Text. Web. 2 May 2014.

    Read More

  • Dracula

    1655 Words  | 4 Pages

    It is said that this book is considered as one of the most famous horror novels, if not the most famous one. The Gothic descriptions in the novel are very prominent at the beginning. The portrayal of the countryside of Transylvania, of the ruined Dracula Castle, etc, all provide the effect of horror in the sense of spooky and gloomy atmosphere, which you can obtain close at hand. Everything is so obvious. The originally beautiful scenes are changed by the writer¡¯s magnification of some specific details which provide certain effect on the readers. All of the above reminds how one¡¯s personal feelings can alter their attitudes towards what they see or what they experience. Sometimes when you are sad, everything look so depressing. It is like the whole world is against you. The sunset could be a fantastic scene when you are filled with joy but an extra source of sorrow when you are not in the mood. Harker is separated from her lovely fianc¨¦e to meet some foreign count in the exotic and unknown eastern world.

    Read More

  • The Futuristic Film, Bladerunner

    480 Words  | 1 Pages

    When one thinks of a futuristic movie that takes place in New York pictures of flying cars and strange cloths pop into the mind. These are in fact used. In addition to these items however, the city itself is portrayed in a very gloomy light. The very first scene of the movie is an aerial shot of the city at night. The audience can see noting but the outline of buildings and pinpricks of light that are the widows in these buildings. When we get down to street level we see other sources of light such as a digital billboard on the side of a building, car headlights, and light from nearby restaurants, but the overall feel is still dark and dismal. The buildings are all metal and it is constantly raining throughout the movie. Other things used to portray this dingy, dismal feel are open fires and trash in the streets.

    Read More

  • Chinatown as Film Noir

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    Roman Polanski's 1974 film, 'Chinatown', revolutionized the film noir genre. Aside from the absense of voice-over, the film shares all the same characteristics with earlier noirs. That is, of course, except for the fact that ?Chinatown? is filmed in color. Because of this, it is more difficult upon the first viewing to immediately classify the movie to this genre. In movies such as ?Double Indemnity? even scenes that take place during the daytime are dark, and since it is a black and white film, this is easy to do. However, in a film with color it is much harder to create this dark effect, especially in scenes that are filmed outdoors. Polanski makes references to symbols that remind the audience that although ?Chinatown? is in color, it still belongs in the genre. For example, one of the first lines in the movie is, ?I just had [the venetian blinds] installed on Wednesday.? Venetian blinds are often seen in the genre, and the reference immediately makes the connection between this...

    Read More

  • Training Day Film Analysis

    793 Words  | 2 Pages

    The director Antoine Fuqua vision for this film was to bring that intense love-hate relationship onto the big screen and showcase it for the world to see. To ensure a convincing film setting, Fuqua shot on location in some of the most hardcore neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Fuqua also wanted to show the daily struggles of officers tasked to work in the rougher neighborhoods of cities and how easy it can be to get caught up in a street life filled with killers and drug dealers. Overall the film displayed the city of Los Angeles in a different perspective. One which m...

    Read More

  • The Flick Film Analysis

    900 Words  | 2 Pages

    When the lights come up the audience is immediately thrown into an old and dingy movie theatre complete with popcorn strewn across the floor. It is within this set that deep social commentary is made throughout the

    Read More

  • Thematic and Stylistic Devices in Neo-noir Film

    763 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...the predominant theme of disorientation and lack of understanding throughout the film. The audience is never clear of if the scene happening is authentic or if there is a false reality.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Psycho

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    In addition, the elements of lighting can be a supplement to a visual story with alluring amount of light and darkness. Firstly, light versus dark is a complex theme in the film. It is looking at terms of the film’s images with use of lighting, day and night, and use of color. Second, is the way the film examines the dark recesses of the human mind and its dimensions of evil. For example, in one scene in the film, Marion Crane gets to know Norman Bates a little too well. Norman states, “Well a boy’s best friend is his mother”. There is an alluring shadow behind Norman Bates, as a shadow is not seen from Crane. It was implied in the film that Bates was deranged and had multiple personal...

    Read More

  • The Blade Runner Dystopia

    1051 Words  | 3 Pages

    This film is a multi-genre film— science fiction and film noir— which creates a very unique stylistic world. The film is characterized in the science fiction genre with flying vehicles— police cars and advertising blimps—, the futuristic city with congested streets, and advanced technology—picturesque billboards, Voight-Kampf machine, picture phones, and voice activated photo analyzers. It also depicts the movie genre of film noir with its low-key lighting consistent throughout Bryant’s office and Deckard’s apartment, the claustrophobic framing with various characters—the overcrowded nightclub—, heavy shadows caused by venetian blinds in Deckard’s apartment, and the rain soaked landscapes during the night.

    Read More

  • Analysis of I Am Legend Directed by Francis Lawrence

    787 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the opening scenes of the trailer, already the audience is exposed to the dystopian atmosphere of chaos, social anarchy and oppression. This is promoted by short fast paced montages and high angle shots of the swarmed streets, close angle shots of people in terror and military forces. This also conveys the magnitude of chaos this “dilemma” has caused. A short scene of the main protagonist Robert struggling through the crowd has also been visually constructed to enforce to the audience that he is the main character of this movie. The visual construction of this scene is utilised by a close up slow motion focused shot on Will Smith with the background blurred to completely draw the audience onto him. What is more unique is that this combination of effects acts as an inference that Will Smith is the solution or only hope in settling this anarchy as he swiftly makes his way through the congested street. The explosion of the bridge also informs the audience the narrative is set in New York implied by being a landmark of the city. Already in the exposition, the visual conventions have provided an engaging and well informed construction of dystopian qualities and information about the plot itself.

    Read More

  • Film Analysis Of Wes Anderson's 'Moonrise Kingdom'

    1406 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is impossible to talk about a Wes Anderson movie without acknowledging its stunning color palettes and quirky storytelling style. In one of his most exemplary works, Moonrise Kingdom, Anderson uses a warm color scheme that blends bright and desaturated colors that ranges from golden yellow, vermillion red, creamy beige, light brown, to even a hint of teal. His color scheme, which is reflected throughout the film’s props, sets, costumes, title design, and camera filters, effectively evokes nostalgia, establishes the summer-like, dreamy mood of the film, and creates a distinct contrast between the different moral values of his characters. However, in the chaotic stormy escape scene and in the costume of Social Services, the visual design deviates greatly from the film’s primarily warm color palette and instead, immerse their visual elements in a deep, dark blue color to show the contrasts in the mood of the story as well as the attitudes of the characters. Overall, Anderson’s visual

    Read More

  • Film Analysis Of Full Metal Jacket, By Stanley Kubrick

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    Therefore, it is possible to notice how the cinematography, the mise-en-scene and the editing are used to resemble the peculiarities of the space in which the actions are taking place. For instance, the first part is characterized by long pan or tilt shots, the camera is steady but still manages to follow the characters actions. The editing points to the linear occurring of the events. Also, the characters and the objects are usually methodically placed in the scene. All of the elements are used to convey the rigid organization, efficiency and control typical of the military environment. On the other hand, in the second part, there are usually shorter shots and steadicam shots. The camera is free to investigate the space of action. Here, the editing is used to create a dynamic perception of the events. In this way Kubrick is able to bring in the spectators’ minds the chaotic reality of the war. Moreover, colors become another tool to communicate to the audience this sort of split within the film. In fact, after Pyle’s death the viewer can notice how those metallic and cold colors, that are present at the beginning of the film, shift into wormer colors. It is actually through Pyle’s suicide that the the spectator gets this switch. In that scene the dark red blood stains, and ideologically violates, the cold white tiles of the bathroom. This film is also different on

    Read More

  • Suspense Is Crucial in Horror and Thriller Films

    1424 Words  | 3 Pages

    Suspense is a crucial ingredient in the making of horror and thriller films. The significance of suspense in horror films is to bring out the “twist or unexpected moment of realization that makes someone scream and one's heart race. In the film industry, there are various types of genre, but as different as films may seem, they all have one element that links them all together. That element is known as Mise-en-scene. Mise-en-scene is a French phrase that means “putting into the scene.” Mise-en-scene includes elements such as setting, lighting, costume, and figure movement and expression (acting).

    Read More

More about Special Effects in Dark City

Open Document