"AFTER HOURS" (1985) (Kubrickian Kafkaesque Video Risk) The Martin Scorsese directed comedy! An off-kilter experience that hardly falters. Real special surprise that contains genuine funny moments and biting social satire. ... and, it contains Rosanna Arquette's toothy grin.

"INTO THE NIGHT" (1985) (The Other Lesser Kafkaesque 1985 Video Risk) Directed by John Landis, this film is not quite as good or classic as the Scorsese gem "After Hours," "Night" is a farfetched romp through a crazy evening to remember. Jeff Goldblum is his eclectic self and ... Michelle Pfeiffer gets naked! (Or was that her body double.)

The Stories: Two thirty something everymen venture into the night in a big city, any big city will do, and get trapped by its perils. "After Hours" is an almost believable story of a computer programmer (underplayed by Griffin Dunne) who makes the mistake of falling for the wrong girl, and has the misfortune to have many, many wrong girls falling for him.

"In the Night" is the unbelievable story of an engineer (played in a monotone droll manner by the ever-watchable Jeff Goldblum) who cannot sleep but whose wife is sleeping with some sleazy bald dude. While venturing into the city one night, the wrong girl falls for him, or is it on or all over him, you decide.

Both films contain odd, even downright strange characters, with "Hours" containing the real ones and "Night" populated by amusing cartoons and two dimensionals.

COMPARISON REVIEW: As you may have already gathered, I believe that "After Hours" is a better movie than "Into the Night." Of course, a quick survey of various mainstream reviews would lead one to the conclusion that "Hours" is the superior work, however, "Night" has its followers of which I am one. "Night" was more enjoyable for me and may be more watchable for most viewers.

Amazingly, there is user review on the Internet Movie Database by someone of Middle Eastern or Indian decent that found "Night" to be a classic even though its Middle Eastern characters are dangerously stereotyped and one of them is played by John Landis himself! As luck would have it, my wife's mother has the same first name as one the bad guys in "Night" which I found amusing on a personal mother-in-law slamming note. Of course, my mother-in-law is a sweet little Pakistani woman not capable of managing her own criminal empire, or so the facade displays.

Both films have similar protagonists, each is stuck in a boring job and both are lacking in love. "Night" complicates this by making Goldblum's character married, whereas, "Hours" is cleaner making Dunne's character single. Above, you see Goldblum at work with Dan Aykroyd (in a cool little straight role). To the right, you see Dunne exiting his place of work as the doors slide closed. "Hours" contains great images, such as the one above, lifting the film to classic status.

"Night" is littered with bit roles by familiar faces like David Bowie playing an English heavy. In addition, there are loads of smaller appearances by famous directors like David Cronenberg, Jonathan Demme, and Lawrence Kasden to name a few.

Ultimately, "Night" is a forgettable time-killer that delivers laughs with a typical Hollywood ending. "Hours" is a must see and will not be easily forgotten. Both films made in 1985 blend comedic elements with mystery and intrigue, at times, to excess even coming off mean-spirited. Still, each are worthy video risks.

Jonathan Hickman