After Hours
dir. Martin Scorsese · 1985
Feature
Moral Ambiguity
Mood
Comedic / Dark
Look
gritty, neon-lit urban landscapes with a claustrophobic feel
Structure
episodic with escalating absurdity
Plot
A meek word processor in New York impulsively travels downtown to Soho for date with an attractive, but apparently disturbed young woman, and finds himself trapped in a nightmarishly surreal vortex of improbable coincidences and farcical circumstances.
Why watch
"After Hours" is a darkly comedic exploration of urban alienation, where a simple night out spirals into a surreal odyssey of chaos and absurdity. Scorsese masterfully captures the existential dread of modern dating against the backdrop of a neon-lit New York City, making it a must-watch for those who appreciate the bizarre twists of life.
Cultural context
1980s New York City nightlifethe rise of postmodern absurdismthe anxieties of urban livingthe exploration of masculinity in crisis