4K UHD Review: After Hours (Criterion Collection)

Released in 1985, Martin Scorsese’s dark comedy After Hours offers an unflinching look at the edgier side of New York City’s Soho district. Griffin Dunne stars as mild mannered word processor Paul Hackett, who is having the worst night of his life in the city. Things start out promising late one evening, when he meets the beautiful Marcy (Rosanna Arquette) in a café. They talk literature and Marcy invites Paul to her apartment to hang out at 11:32 PM. On his way there. His money flies out the window of an out of control cab. Marcy is at the drugstore when Paul arrives, so he talks to her roommate Kiki (Linda Fiorentino) and helps her with a sculpture that will feature prominently in Paul’s night.

Marcy returns and Paul and she connect. That connection creates a series of complications. In time, Marcy reveals that she was raped in the room they were in. She also notes she’s married, and her husband owns the loft. Things get weirder as Paul realizes that Marcy has some significant emotional problems.

From there, LOTS of weird things happen. Suffice to say, Paul meets a series of strange people and finds himself in a series of strange situations. All he wants to do is get home, but a series of comedic roadblocks prevent that. I didn’t find a lot of laughs, but After Hours is very much a mileage may vary situation. While third act is stronger, for me, After Hours is easily Scorsese’s weakest film of the era, coming after 1976’s Taxi Driver and 1980’s Raging Bull, both considered by many to be among the greatest films ever made. Comparatively, Scorsese just seems a bit lost here, trying to be clever but not really succeeding.

Nonetheless, I know many people have been anxiously awaiting a 4K release of After Hours and Criterion has delivered the goods. Transferred to 4K UHD in Dolby Vision HDR, is cited as being from a “New 4K digital restoration, approved by editor Thelma Schoonmaker.” Given that much of the film takes place at night, clarity is well maintained. The occasional light pops. Some of the best-looking scenes take place at a diner and inside a neon filled punk club. Colors are well balanced throughout. Blacks are deep and inky. Depth is solid, facial features look realistic and textures are wonderful.

The LPCM 1.0 audio mix works very well. Fully restored, this dialogue heavy film shines. Dialogue is clean, clear and concise throughout. Environmental sounds are well mixed. There are no pops, hisses or other anomalies.

English SDH subtitles are available:

4K Disc:

• Audio Commentary with Martin Scorsese, actor/producer Griffin Dunne, producer Amy Robinson, cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, and editor Thema Schoonmaker: Originally recorded in 2004, though additional comments by Dunne and Robinson that were recorded in 2023.

Blu-ray Disc:

• Audio Commentary: See above.
• Martin Scorsese and Fran Lebowitz (HD, 19:47) In this new interview, Martin Scorsese discusses the period in which After Hours was conceived and shot, some of the professional issues he was dealing with, the dark humor that permeates the film, and the unique personality of Griffin Dunne’s character. Scorsese is interviewed by writer Fran Lebowitz.
• Filming for Your Life: Making After Hours (HD, 18:42) Originally produced in 2004, this documentary focuses on the production history of After Hours. Includes interviews with Martin Scorsese, Griffin Dunne, Amy Robinson, and Thema Schoonmaker.
• The Look of After Hours (HD, 18:05) Recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2023, this features interviews with designer Rita Ryack and production designer Jeffrey Townsend, discussing the visual style of the film.
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 8:08) Seven deleted scenes from the film.
• Trailer (HD, 2:05)
• Leaflet: An illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic Sheila O’Malley as well as technical credits.