The premise is that mankind creates a race that looks just like us (except they have a penchant for heavy black eyeliner), but was enhanced and improved to use for armies. Of course, anytime you have a sentient being that is treated like a second class citizen or even a slave, war is going to happen. In this case, the generics, or Ghen as they call themselves, won. They moved underground and thrived. Mankind mostly succumbed to a virus on the planet's surface and lives in tiny pockets of people without any technology. The Ghen control the Earth from underground. They control the human population on the surface and bring humans underground to work as slaves.
Aiden Pryme (Bailey Chase) is in the prime of his life. He has just gotten engaged to a beautiful woman named Rielle (Catherine Lazo). Aiden wants to join the ministers, though. He is giving up a position as a university professor to do so. The ministers roam above ground controlling and capturing humans. Crecilias (Eric Scott Woods) is Aiden's older brother. He is also known as Baron Pryme and is above the ministers. Crecilias is running for re-election on a platform to exterminate all remaining humans and make the Ghens pure. He passionately hates humans and wants them all gone. Tradition says that only the first born son of the house of Pryme can serve the ministers. Aiden is the younger son, so he shouldn't be allowed to go but Crecilias helps push it through. These brothers are as close as two can be, but there is a secret that will destroy them that their mom, Hannalin (Pamela Clay) has hidden from them. The mother is a good woman who just wants peace for all, humans and Ghens alike.
Above ground, there is a human woman called the Channeler. Her real name is Mukayluh (Kristy Hulslander). Mukayluh is bringing hope to the humans and can supposedly even bring people back from the dead. Crecilius wants her found immediately. Mukayluh is chanelling the Clandoa that she says are teachers and are going to help them. Mukayluh's husband, Johan (Bruce Blauer), wants her to stop before they find her though, as rumors of her powers spread quickly.
On his first trip to the surface, Aiden's group captures Mukayluh's husband and son, but they can't find her. They bring them back to stand trial for having a hidden cache of Ghen weapons. Naturally, Crecilius wants Johan found guilty and killed. Dr. Baxter (Paul Nakauchi) opposes Crecilius's position. He thinks that the humans should be controlled instead of killed. He tries to save Johan's life but to no avail, proving once again how strong Crecilius's hatred of the humans really is. When Hannalin reveals her secret to Aiden, he's got a very tough decision to make, one that ends up costing some more than they thought they could ever lose. This war is more like a civil war than one race versus the other, as the lines are not as clear as anyone thinks. When you look just like your enemy, how can you really tell who's who, on sight?
There are a few special features, mostly trailers, but the Behind the Scenes is interesting. It's more of a round table (without the table) discussion with the cast about their characters and their thoughts on filming Dark Metropolis. Overall, I enjoyed Dark Metropolis, but I did feel like it was lacking. There were times when I was confused as to what was going on and there were things that felt like plot holes, but also felt more like there was just information that had to be cut in the interest of time. I liked the concept of the world that it was set in. I just wish it had maybe been a bit longer to flesh things out more. Still though, if you're a fan of sci-fi, Dark Metropolis is an interesting concept!
