Shadow Hours (2000)

Why so much hype?

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Despite the obvious low budget, the film has an excellent cast. Balthazar Getty, who plays the lead, was in David Lynch's film Lost Highway. People continually call him the poor man's Charlie Sheen but he really does have talent. And yes, Peter Weller was the guy who played Robocop. But forget that. In Shadow Hours, he is suave and convincing as the mysterious writer who is a bit more underground than, say, Bukowski. Rebecca Gayheart is here, too, in what might be the best performance in the film and she plays a woman in this movie, not some whiny high school ditz like in Jawbreaker. And Brad Douriff is, well, Brad Douriff. Peter Greene plays a police detective and is probably the best "tough guy" actor since James Caan or James Cagney. He played Ben Stiller's drug buddy in Permanent Midnight. As far as plot is concerned: Michael (Getty) meets Stuart Chapelle (Weller) while on the night shift at a 24 hour Los Angeles filling station. Stuart befriends Michael and, with Stuart as his guide, Michael is led straight into a private apocalypse with the strange LA underground as a backdrop. Gayheart is Michael's pregnant wife who is understandably concerned. But she never comes off as whiny like all other movie wives. And Greene gets involved because Chapelle may or may not be a murderer.The thing that really makes this movie special is that the director clearly is a moral person and is making a comment on the evils of society. Like Michael under the fluorescent glare of the Snack Shop, Mr. Eaton the writer and director captured the insanity he saw all around him. The Job speech is a marvel, and not only does it make an interesting comment on the present period but also proved to be quite prophetic in the sense that further on into the 21st Century, morality really degenerated. In some ways an opposite Job situation, people were morally tested, given everything, technology, the pleasures of the flesh, drugs, alcohol, but all it did was serve to darken the hearts of people and cause them to forget God. The music is just wonderful. The director has a great visual style, and is clearly influenced by greats such as Martin Scorsese.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

I have yet to watch the entire film -- yet. I keep on catching it on Showtime at like 2:00 in the morning. I have Comcast, and I wish that they would just release the damned film on On-Demand, so that I could see it at a reasonable hour (i.e., on MY time, instead of DURING "shadow" hours...):)Anyway, the thing that moved me about the piece was the mood, plain and simple. I love Peter Weller's performance in this flick. He was the only thing that caused me to name a song of my own after the film -- Shadow Hours. I may even title an album of mine using that name (if anyone cares or doesn't know this, you can name a work anything that you want to -- without worrying about "copyright" infringement. Titles are not copyrightable. Period.):)Again -- a worthy viewing. I agree with the most recent submission here -- yes, the story line isn't original, and yes, Michael Mann is a better director than most anyway. I just got a kick out of Weller's character and characterizations.Ciao.Sammy

Although initially attracted by an image of what looked like hook-suspension on the video cover, this movie was recommended to me by someone in the scene, and, afforded the opportunity to purchase it for under $10, i took a chance on watching it. Ultimately, i am glad, and i hope to share it with you folks in HELL at an upcoming meeting.The "protagonist", Michael Holloway ( Balthazar Getty), a newly married impending father, and a recovering substance abuser stuck in a depressing job at a 24-hr. convenience store, appeared to me more a vehicle for moving the plot along than a three-dimensional character.The insidious Stuart Chapell, (played by Peter Weller ) proved to be a much more intriguing individual, especially as his true nature became evident. To me he was the epitome of a suave, amoral, cultured sadist, the type that is so seductive and disarming as they lead a confused and impressionable 'submissive" into the "abyss" of their own degeneracy.Distracted by the somewhat vapid "Eyes Wide Shut" - type beginning, and uninspiring, but ,i suppose, necessary, domestic details,and strange impressionistic repetitions, i did not realize where the film was going - not so much plot-wise as thematically, so i was very impressed by the conclusionWhile the "scene" enactment's, both mild and intense, were very compelling and relatively believable,this was not a film about BDSM, but about the dark side of human nature, and its inevitable persistence. ( i was wryly amused that a"mild" erotic BDSM club fell some where on the depravity continuum between campy male strippers, and what appeared to be ostensibly an opium den, while "heavy" S/m directly proceeded a deadly serious game of high-stakes 'Russian Roulette."!The ending surprised me, until i realized what Chapell was supposed to represent..And then i began thinking about the movie "Quills", and about the influence a brilliant mind and Dominant personality can exert over others...while bringing to the surface their suppressed, or less honorable desires...In a word - Chilling - and definitely worth the price "admission"!~MWv~ "What fresh HELL is this?" ~Dorothy Parker~

Shadow Hours is the best movie Balthazar Getty has done since Lost Highway and is also probably the best movie Peter Weller has done since Robocop. Anyone who has spent considerable time within a major city nightlife scene will be able to identify with this movie. People who also like a film to leave a few questions unanswered will also probably get a kick out of Shadow Hours.The film has a great look to it, this film is so much slicker looking than any recent mainstream or indie film in the past few years. This is probably the slickest looking movie Ive seen since Blade. Kudos to the director and dp. The soundtrack is top notch as well. Weller is in top form here, his unique look and commanding voice really make his character. Getty gives a good performance as well. The cast of supporting characters is really amazing. Every few minutes you will see a familiar face pop up in a small role.The only small problem I have with the film is that a few scenes referenced other movies a little too blatantly, but the film's main story is very original and intrigueing. Overall it is a great little movie with alot of style and a thought provoking story. It was great to see a movie made for adults compared to all the pg-13 bland entertainment that the gutless hollywood studios have been releasing lately.This film is no direct to video cheapie my friends.