The “Reader Recommendation” category includes films nominated by our readers as deserving of consideration for the List of the 366 Best Weird Movies of all time.
by reader “Rajiv”
DIRECTED BY: Martin Scorsese
FEATURING: Griffin Dunne, Rosana Arquette, Catherine O’Hara
PLOT: One night, Paul Hackett ( Griffin Dunne), New York computer word-processing
consultant, is trapped in SoHo because his last dollar has flown out of the cab window on his way to a late night date with a woman he’s just met. His dream to score with a pretty woman ends up to be a waking nightmare when one mishap after another strands him in a hostile neighborhood in his quest to return home before morning.
WHY IT DESERVES TO MAKE THE LIST: From the plot description itself, we should aware that this is a weird film. The execution is also very weird. This is technically a black comedy, but it plays like a suspenseful thriller. A lot of surprisingly unpredictable things happened to force Paul Haggis, who just wants go home that night, stay in SoH.
COMMENTS: A strange, original, and totally underrated movie from Mr. Scorsese. This film is a little bit ‘Coen brothers-ish,’ full of fantasies and surprises. This film proves Scorsese is a master filmmaker. He can create a moments with any subject matter, and make the audience feel certain feelings. Watch out especially for the ending of After Hours, it will make your feelings turn 180 degrees, it’s a shock! After Hours really deserved more attention as one of Scorsese’s best works.
Rajiv, I wanted to let you know that After Hours will definitely make the List. This is one of my favorite black comedies of all time: it’s ability to create high anxiety and alternate it with tension-breaking humor is almost unequaled. As you point out, there’s nothing really impossible that happens in After Hours, it’s just that the coincidences piled on top of coincidences are so improbable that the movie creates a weird feeling in your gut. Good choice!