From time to time, I will offer a movie review with the purpose of healing the mind and heart. There are many movies that serve as profound parables that, when understood from the proper perspective, can offer us comfort and guidance on our journey to wholeness.
Have you ever come across a movie that seemed to reflect your own inner battles? For me, one of those movies is “Dark City (1998).” The movie’s message is undeniably brilliant if only you can see beneath the surface of the story itself to its underlying message.
This captivating sci-fi film not only delves into the depths of the human psyche and takes the viewer on a journey through the perils and pitfalls of the spiritual journey, but also offers a profound map out of the dark, confusing nature of the mind and onto the light of clarity and peace, depicted in the movie as “Shell Beach.” I was thrilled to discover a story that, in so many ways, offers such clear instruction out of the ego’s maze. It also mirrors much of my own early struggles, and I’m happy to share it with you in the following post.
With my understanding of how the mind works, I can say with a fair amount of certainty that my journey is no different from that of most other humans, though the cast and stage design (so to speak) of each person’s story are obviously different. In the following essay, I’m going to take you on a little journey through the mesmerizing storyline of “Dark City,” drawing parallels to my own experiences and discovering the hope of awakening from the darkness. My wish is that through it, you will also see a glimmer of light and hope on your own path through whatever challenges you have faced in the past, are currently facing, or may experience in the future.
A Map Out Of Hell – Darkness to Awakening: Exploring the Movie, “Dark City” Through My Own Personal Struggles
For context, let me begin with a brief synopsis of the movie before launching into the blog:
From a more psychological vantage point, you could say that “Dark City” explores the illusory nature of reality and the quest for self-discovery. The story follows John Murdoch, a man who wakes up with no memory and discovers that his world is controlled by mysterious beings called the “Strangers”. As we advance through the film, John unravels the truth behind his identity and the manipulative nature of the city, and through it all gradually realizes his own power to shape his destiny and breaks free from the confines of the painful and confusing illusion he was living in.
The Dark City: Symbolizing Inner Turmoil
In “Dark City,” a world of ever-shifting and changing reality, where it is always nighttime, the perpetual darkness of the city serves as a great metaphor for the emotional darkness I faced during my many years of struggle with depression and anxiety when I was younger. Just like the city’s inhabitants, I often felt disconnected from my own sense of self and trapped in a world devoid of light. The manipulation and control exerted by the “Strangers” in the movie reflected the grip of my inner critic, perpetuating a false reality of fear and self-doubt, and an unseen power to keep me “asleep” and unaware of what was happening to me.
Personal Struggles with Depression and Anxiety
Before we delve deeper into the movie’s themes, let me share a glimpse of my own battle with depression and anxiety. The darkness of my earlier years was also marked by very low self-esteem and a virulent inner critic, which is obviously common for people lost in a seemingly inescapable maze of painful and circuitous thinking that seems impossible to decipher, let alone escape from. These challenges made me feel like I was living in a Dark City, where joy and self-acceptance seemed entirely out of reach. However, deep within, I yearned for a way back to the light—a path of healing and self-discovery.
Reflecting back on those years, I can clearly see all the seemingly irrational and nonsensical choices I had made in my desperate attempts to catch a glimpse of light in the dark, hellish hole that was my world—life choices that had my parents quite worried at times and endlessly befuddled. Honestly, I’m amazed I made it out alive!
The Quest for Shell Beach: Seeking Awakening
In “Dark City,” the elusive Shell Beach represents a beacon of hope—a place of truth and awakening. Similarly, I longed for my own version of Shell Beach, a path that would lead me out of the darkness and towards a life filled with purpose, joy, and self-acceptance.
In the movie, much like in life, I found it interesting how all the characters had in their possession nostalgic memorabilia of the beauty and serenity of Shell Beach, such as postcards and old photos. However, when asked, no one could remember much about it or even how to get there. It was like a faint memory in the mind that seemed perpetually out of reach, never actually attainable, but alluring to “believe in” nonetheless. The search for Shell Beach, as depicted in the film, served as both an elegant allegory for my quest to overcome depression, anxiety, and the negative self-perceptions that plagued me. It was also an incredibly poignant demonstration of our forgetfulness of the Truth of who we are and where we came from. As beautiful as that faint memory was in my mind, it remained ever elusive.
The Inner Guide: Dr. Schreber and Seeking Truth
In the movie, we meet the character Dr. Schreber, who, upon first blush, appears somewhat scary and ominous. However, we later come to learn that he acts as an inner guide, helping the protagonist, John Murdoch, understand the truth of their shared reality. In my own life, I encountered mentors, therapists, and supportive friends who played a pivotal role in guiding me through my struggles. They provided the support and wisdom necessary to challenge my negative beliefs, confront my fears, and uncover the truth hidden within. Moreover, given the allegorical and deeply insightful nature of this movie, I sense that what is being pointed to isn’t so much the external guides that show up in our lives, but the recognition (re-cognition) of a guide within our own mind that is available to us all if only we notice it and trust it.
Usually, in our real-life human stories, we need to reach a point of great pain to open our minds to the healing that such an inner guide holds out to us. True to these inner workings as I understand them, the movie “Dark City” has already figured that one out and depicts it beautifully through the character of Dr. Schreber.
Embracing the Awakening Process
As in “Dark City,” my journey towards healing and awakening has not been a linear path. Along the way, I have had to confront various aspects of the ego—the inner critic, self-doubt, and low self-esteem—that perpetuated my suffering. This process has and continues to require questioning my beliefs, facing my fears head-on, and challenging the illusions that kept me trapped in the Dark City of my mind.
The Liberation of Awakening and Shared Identity
In the movie’s climax, John Murdoch merges with the collective consciousness of the city’s inhabitants, transcending the limitations imposed by the Strangers. This merging symbolizes the recognition of shared identity and the realization that we are not alone in our struggles. We can interpret this as the presence of friends, teachers, and guides who can support us on our journey.
However, it can also signify that we are not alone within our own minds, where the ego often leads us astray. Optimistically, with enough willingness, we are able to remove the obstacles to Love’s Presence (represented by the Strangers) and encounter the Guide within. I sometimes refer to this as Higher Mind, Higher Self, Wholeness, Intuition, or Truth in the Mind. Others may think of it as God or Buddha Mind.
Parallel to my own journey through the years, I found solace in connecting with others who shared similar battles, understanding that we are all interconnected on the path of healing. Additionally and perhaps more importantly, I discovered the transformative power of opening up to “Something” within that transcends the limitations of my identity as a human body and all the ideas I hold about who I think I am.
Finding Hope and Embracing the Light
“Dark City” serves as a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, hope can be found. The metaphorical journey from the Dark City to Shell Beach reflects my own journey of personal transformation—a journey from despair to awakening. Through perseverance, self-discovery, and learning to hear, trust, and follow the Wise Self within, I have been navigating my way towards Wholeness, releasing myself from the grip of depression, anxiety, and negative self-perceptions.
Awakening to a Brighter Reality
As I reflect on my struggles with depression, anxiety, the most nasty-of-nasty inner critics, and the perpetual game of hide-and-seek my self-esteem loved to play with me, the profound impact of movies like “Dark City” becomes evident. Such films can serve as beacon’s of light on the path toward relief from years of seemingly endless pain and subsequently lead to awakening. The movie’s exploration of the human psyche and the quest for awakening resonates deeply with my personal journey. By drawing parallels between the movie’s themes and our painful human experiences, we can be fortified and hopeful on our quest to transcend the darkness and embrace a brighter reality—an awakening that allows for self-acceptance, joy, and inner peace. I know that your journey will also continue to unfold as you open yourself to the possibilities of healing your mind.
See you on Shell Beach!