After Hours begins innocently, like a fleeting encounter on a vibrant, unknown street, but quickly descends into a night of escalating oddities. Much like a surprising quickie, this movie is an experience that keeps you guessing, especially in its initial moments, though it might lose some momentum towards the end.
Martin Scorsese’s direction is characteristically sharp. The signature dolly zoom, a Scorsese hallmark, is present, drawing the viewer intimately into the characters’ disorienting journey. These directorial choices, along with rotating shots and pans, inject visual dynamism, though they serve more as stylistic embellishments than groundbreaking techniques.
The film’s soundtrack is a masterclass in curation. Eschewing an original score, Scorsese opts for a diverse tapestry of existing music, from classical pieces to punk rock anthems and nostalgic oldies. This eclectic mix breathes life into each scene, amplifying the already compelling performances. The acting truly shines, with each character radiating an unsettling aura. Except for the protagonist, trust feels like a fragile commodity. Every interaction is laced with unpredictability, characters capable of sudden outbursts or bizarre behavior. This creates a cast of memorable figures and dialogues, vital in a film driven primarily by its characters and conversations.
The narrative, or rather, the protagonist’s bewildering odyssey, is captivating. Interconnections weave through the story, linking characters in often tenuous ways. While some of these links resonate, others seem contrived, existing solely to forge connections, even when logic strains. The overall interconnectedness can feel somewhat forced. However, a compelling theory emerges: could this entire nightmarish episode be an elaborate setup orchestrated around Hackett? Was he unwittingly thrust into a bizarre performance art piece? The film subtly hints at this possibility, particularly in the scene where he encounters June and enters the room filled with plaster figures. A stack of bagel and cream cheese paperweights, seemingly prepared in advance, sits conspicuously in the background. This could explain the improbable chain of events, the lack of police follow-up regarding the deceased girlfriend, and the suspiciously convenient timing and diversions orchestrated by the people he meets.
While this remains speculative, never explicitly stated, “After Hours” ultimately delivers as a compelling and peculiar cinematic experience.
