Shadow Hours Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Just when you think you've seen it all you realize you haven't seen a thing
Michael is a recovering alcoholic/drug user. Back on the wagon, he's now responsible for a young, beautiful, and pregnant wife. He's working the graveyard shift at a gas station to support his new family, but the job drives him crazy. Then a wealthy stranger, Stuart, enters Michael's life, taking Michael through a tour of the seediest and slimiest parts of L.A. underbelly. Is Stuart leading Michael to hell, or salvation?
| Balthazar Getty | Michael Holloway |
| Peter Weller | Stuart Chappell |
| Rebecca Gayheart | Chloe Holloway |
| Peter Greene | Det. Steve Andrianson |
| Frederic Forrest | Sean |
| Brad Dourif | Roland Montague |
| Michael Dorn | Det. Thomas Greenwood |
| Corin Nemec | Vincent |
| Johnny Whitworth | Tron |
| Arroyn Lloyd | Mickey |
| Clayton Landey | Announcer |
| Richard Moll | Homeless Man |
| Downtown Julie Brown | Speaker |
| Christopher Doyle | Sweeny |
| Tane McClure | Keesha |
| Isaac H. Eaton |
5.20 out of 10 (378 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Beware of quotes from critics
posted on 03 May 2008"The explicit and raw scenes" referred to in the critic's quote in the newspaper ads for this movie definitely do not refer to anything erotic or sexual. No, sexuality is far to complex and difficult a subject for boy directors, so they always revert to the tried and true--extreme bloody violence. Nice performances by Getty and Weller, but what they had to say was laughable, and overwhelmed by flashy camera work and an ending so outrageous it was almost worth sitting through the dreadful array of sadomasochism scenes to get to the ending which was worth a good laugh at the ineptness on display. Just how far should an audience be required to go to suspend disbelief? The Russian roulette scene would have been laughable itself had it not already been done to death so many times before. Now it's just tired and predictable. Unfortunately boy-wonder auteurs have no life experience on which to base their work so their "films" are nothing more than a collection of scenes recycled from other movies, some better, some worse, but never original. And one last thing, movies about recovering addicts in a 12-step program should have a warning label so that innocent people won't be suckered into seeing yet another movie about some loser trying to clean up. Seen it. Seen it. Seen it.
Underrated Gem
posted on 20 Oct 2007'Shadow Hours' opened in late 2000 to some harsh reviews. Many critics believed that director Isaac H. Eaton borrowed from one too many films and that his storyline is jumbled and confused. I for one think that while the storyline can get familiar, the general storyline was going in interesting directions that made it more interesting to watch. And what made it even more interesting is that this film had a supporting cast of many familiar faces.Balthazar Getty, in the lead role of the recovering addict, is servicable, but not exceptional. He seems one-note in many scenes, and clearly gets his scenes stolen from co-star Peter Weller, who has (I think) his best role in years as the devious writer Stuart Chappell. This is clearly Weller's best performance since 'The New Age' and he relishes it with a passion. One definitely doesn't know where his character is going, and Weller fleshes him out with enough mystery and charisma (without resorting to absurd overacting) to make him an enjoyable antagonist. If losing out to Weller isn't enough, Getty's acting chops also get more heat from Peter Greene, playing a cop, is just as creepy as the other man named Peter.The soundtrack, with it's constant techno beat, is actually a refreshing change and works with the various set-pieces in the movie. All in all, check this film out. One might be surprised how good it is. It's more proof that one shouldn't always listen to critics.
Robo Cop-Out
posted on 12 Mar 2007This ultimately pointless little excursion into perversion starts out promisingly enough: desperate ex-cokester (Balthazar Getty) with pregnant wife working the night shift at a sleazy gas station seeks something, ANYthing, to offer escape from his dreary, drugless, thrill-less existence.
Enter Peter Weller (Robo Cop himself!), driving the sleek car, wearing the sleek clothes, walkin' the sleek walk and talkin' the sleekest talk poor Balthazar's ever heard. Naturally, he follows his new bud off into the night and is taken on a depraved journey that perversely fills his void. In no time he's back on the blow, of course, and he's also addicted to his new best friend, who continuously ups the ante (best friend that he is) by exposing Balthazar to deeper, more depraved kicks. (There's a lot of s&m activity, people suspended by hooks, that sort of thing, and there's a fight club scenario, and of course there has to be Russian Roulette - what would depravity be without Russian Roulette, I ask you.) Robo's doing this, you see (or rather he TELLS us) so Little Balthy can hit rock bottom and rise from his ashes, purified and reborn, blah blah blah.
This would be good, if it actually happened - catharsis is Number One in MY book. However, by the time this sordid sleaze plays itself to its crazed conclusion, NOTHING is really changed, there is no real catharsis for our 'hero' (and I use the word VERY loosely here), and we don't even know whether Robo has actually committed the murders that have been taking place throughout the proceedings. By this time, though, guess what? You don't care! You just want to crawl into a clean, safe bed somewhere and sleep it off.
bad acting meets great plot
posted on 23 Jul 2006when i first started watching this movie I thought, ughh just another low budget drama film with a bunch of nobody actors. However, it turned out to be a surprisingly great movie... I was seamlessly entertained at the beginning, but gradually began to understand the meaning of the film. It's definitely not a classic, but something that everyone should see at some point in their life. I think it shows a good point in life. I also think that the casting was perfect for this type of film. If there were big name actors/actress' in this movie I don't think I would have liked it as much. It kind of struck me as an independent film. The acting was a little shaky but it has a great plot. Try to catch this movie on HBO late at night, I guarantee you will be glad you saw it.
Hhmmmmm, trippy.
posted on 19 Jul 2006If you thought the bizarre and errie world of THE CELL was scary and weird, you haven't seen nothing yet. SHADOW HOURS takes the viewer into the dark and seedy world that does exist, in Los Angeles. From night clubs, to tourture clubs, to drugculture, to fight clubs, the viewer doesn't really miss much of what else is dark in the city.
Balthazar Getty (who looks similar to Charlie Sheen) is Michael Holloway a man who use to be part of the drug culture and it nearly cost him his life. But everything changed when he met Chloe (Rebecca Gayheart) a girl who made Michael give up his addictive illegal habits and go straight. So Michael works the graveyard shift at a gas station around central Los Angeles. Night after night, people come in, give Michael money, pump gas into their vehicles and then leave. One night Michael takes part of his anger out on a customer, Stuart Chappell (Peter Weller). Stuart pulls up in a nice looking Porsche and wearing a expensive suit. Michael feels guilty about yelling at innocent Stuart who only wanted gas, so he apoligizes to him, and Stuart accepts and wants to take Michael out for a cocktail. However, Stuart isn't innocent, he doesn't want to take Michael out only for a cocktail, and he didn't arrive to only get gas.
Stuart shows Michael the underground world of Los Angeles, from strip clubs to places where people watch people getting torture.
One good thing about SHADOW HOURS is the look and mood of the film.
The picture starts off of fast motion cars speeding on a freeway, with the numbers on a gas pump moving in rapid speed, while music from Moby is being played on the soundtrack. If anyone is going to make a movie that takes place around in Los Angeles, one SHOULD play industrial music, especially by the artist Moby. Michael Mann protrayed Los Angeles to a prefction in his 1995 classic HEAT. As the view saw the scummy and seedy realistic side of Los Angeles, the
fast dance tempo of Moby was played on the soundtrack. And SHADOW HOURS does accomplish that in some of it's scenes, which I really enjoyed.
However, nothing much could be said for the rest of the film. The plot isn't anything special or new, it's more or less a updated version of the dark figure leading the innocent figure into a dark world. And some of the scenes in the film are not that original, but others (including a sexual torture club) are very disturbing to watch.
The only actor who stands out in this film is by Peter Weller. He gives flamboyance to his character of Stuart that you wonder is this man really psychotic, or is he indeed the devil himself.
But for the other actors, they pretty much give a paint-by-numbers performance. Getty doesn't really carry the movie, when he should be the leading actor carrying the film, he appears to be a sidekick to the Weller character. Rebecca Gayheart also gives a generic performance as the pregnant wife who stays awake late at night and wonders what her husband is up to. But a decent supporting performances from Brad Dourif as the gas station manager, and a unrecognizeable Frederic Forrest, help give the movie some color.
I do see what director Isaac Eaton was trying to say in this film by getting his message across. But it's nothing really new or unique. For a small budget independent film, it does manage to show something promising, but in the end you don't walk out going "wow" it's more of a "ho-hum." ** (out of five)
Good actors; OK movie
posted on 05 Mar 2006When I catch this, one thing is certain: this is Peter Weller's movie. His presence is freaky whether playing Russian Roulette or betting on underground fights. BZAR Getty does all right keeping up but is more of a standout when talking to the other players. The supporting players were good considering what they had to work with. I was shocked to see Brad Dourif look somewhat normal. I will also say I was glad Rebecca Gayheart got some much needed work after that accident that killed that kid. Regarding the writing, aside from some choice one-liners (I've seen stuff that makes Dante's Inferno read like Winnie the Pooh) it's OK at best.If it's on cable and are an insomniac (like Getty in this film), give a glance.
A mildly compelling B-flick with limited appeal
posted on 22 Jan 2006"Shadow Hours" is a well shot, well acted, impatient B-flick which gets moving quickly and keeps up the momentum throughout. Although the film is a journeyman production at best, it creates a curious mystique by asking more questions than it answers and keeps the audience guessing to the end and beyond. Weller's character is particularly compelling as he mentors a recovering addict, Getty, on life with a series of tours through the decadent underbelly of Los Angeles nightlife. Not for everyone, some will find this film provocative and will be looking forward to better offerings from this auteur in the future.
How you can not like this movie is beyond me
posted on 08 Sep 2005When I sat down to watch this movie, I was really expecting a serious B movie, with the low production value and all. The movie really wow-ed me, but it wasn't just the high production value that got me, it was the writing, directing and acting. The script and direction (both courtesy of new comer Isaac H. Eaton) were great. I watched the movie because of Peter Weller, king of all B-Movies. I was more than impressed by his performance (a definate stand out among this cast, or any for that matter) and the rest of the main cast was great too. Interresting to see Peter Greene as a good guy, and B'Zar and Rebecca Gayheart were perfect. All in all, this movie is more than enough entertainment for a friday night, I throughly enjoyed it and recommend it highly. Without hesitation I give it 10/10.
Watchable; four out of ten stars
posted on 14 Dec 2004I have a habit of briefly skimming over the descriptions of a movie on the reverse side of the box, so when I rented it, I thought I was renting a supernatural thriller (the box cover itself looks to have a supernatural aspect to it). Well, it was not even close.But still, it was a watchable movie. It was interesting seeing the gritty underworld of the city, especially since I'm from a small town of 15 - 16,000 people. Peter Weller performed quite well, although I enjoyed his performances more in the Robocop movies and Screamers. Balthazar Getty also did a bang-up job as well as a former druggie and alcoholic. One question though: how in the world was this character able to snag a wife like Rebecca Gayheart??!! That part, I must say, seems unrealistic and/or unfair.All in all, it was a watchable movie, but I probably would never watch it twice. Oh, and for all of you homophobic guys out there, this movie has a few scenes of male strippers in it. Blech!
Interesting and grotesque, if familiar
posted on 30 Aug 2004The devil feeds from your weaknesses and enstills good in temptation.
"Shadow Hours" definitely understands this, and shows an interesting Lucifer who dwells in the seedy underworld of Los Angelos. To say the least, I wasn't blown away by the story's originality, but director Isaac H. Eaton has some brilliant style tricks to keep it fun and intriguing. He is an adroit director working with a mediocre script, and the results are surprisingly good. Balthazaar Ghetty plays Michael Halloway, a recovering alcoholic who tries to support himself as well as his wife Chloe by working at a seedy gas station on graveyard shift. In this environment, he's bound to see some interesting things. It seems everyone who comes through has exhausted themselves with something...most likely some sort of sin. They are all running on empty as they scurry through the night. There are wonderful sequences where gas meters rise as different things happen, communicating this theme perfectly. Anyway, he runs into a mugger and a homeless man (who symbolizes his bottom of the barrel outlook), but most importantly, a writer named Stuart Chappell (played by Peter Weller, in easily one of his best performances).
Chappell has a strange fixation on Michael, and he takes care of him, clothing him with nice suits, and giving him tons of money to gamble. From the start, it is obvious this guy's a little shady, however. He neglects the fact that Michael is recovering on AA and influences him to start drinking again. Soon, he plunges Michael into a truly harrowing underworld of fight clubs, gambling, drugs and sex. In one of the most disturbing scenes of recent memory, they go to a bondage club where people get sadomasochistic pleasure from torture. At first, I was angry that Eaton would use this smut to manipulate his audience into feeling shocked (like how Todd Solondz did in his terrible film "Happiness"). Then I realized, Chappell, a satan figure, is indeed masochistic in that he feeds off his victim's pain. Little did Michael know as he looked at these twisted acts, that he was being used as a partner to Chappell's atrocity. When Michael becomes closer with Chappell, he realizes how much of a lie this man really is. But the perks of being with him are too great, and soon Michael goes too deep into the dark side, hurting Chloe and damaging the new life he forged after leaving AA. I didn't like how the film ends.
It takes an easy (and largely taken) way out, keeping itself on a level of simplicity. I believe Eaton is a genius director, but he sells himself short in "Shadow Hours". I did like a lot of things in this film. I loved the performances by Getty (who also produced), and more so Peter Weller. He plays Stuart as attractive, fun and seemingly caring, but always dark somewhere deep. I liked how the story was paced and told, but it is lacking in overall freshness. (2 and 1/2 out of 4)
Not as bad as the reviews.
posted on 06 May 2004If you like film noir with eclectic imagery (i.e. "The Hunger") then this is for you. Weller's performance is intriguing and will keep you guessing where he's going go. Peter Greene (Zed from Pulp Fiction) as a sleazy cop is interesting too.Like "The Hunger", the writing/editing didn't quite hold the film together – but hey, it doesn't have to be a 10 star movie to be worth watching.
Great independent movie
posted on 09 Jan 2004Shadow 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.
In a word - Chilling
posted on 09 Jul 2003Although 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~
A Unique Thriller
posted on 07 Feb 2003It is a shame that Shadow Hours is kind of one of those rare thrillers that may have been sorta ignored during it's release, but it is perhaps one of the likable thrillers I have seen in recent years. Director and writer Isaac Eaton did a rather fine job at creating tension and keeping me interested through the story.Balthazar Getty in my opinion has been rather too underrated in films. This talented young actor did a good turning point here in Shadow Hours as the troubled Michael. Trying to straighten out his life, Michael has a new wife (Rebecca Gayheart) and a child on the way. He gets a job during the night shift and encounters a mysterious man named Stuart, (creepily portrayed by Peter Weller). They become close friends and they begin to experiment in the terrible parts of the city and Michael begins going downhill. Eventually Michael learns that Stuart could be a sociopath and he has to fight against him to get back to his life again.Shadow Hours should very well be viewed for those that are fans and are inspired by this kind of genre. The film also has a familiar cast in cameo appearances that include Peter Greene, Richard Moll (of TV's Night Court) and Oscar nominees Frederic Forrest and Brad Dourif.
This film teaches us to reject temptations...
posted on 08 Jan 2003I especially like this one movie. It completely got me on the screen. It's a story about a ex-alcoholic/drug addict that works in a gas station by night. He has a wife and is starting a new life, but a guy starts to approach him and making him offers of lusty and desirable things. We then enter the world of this rich guy, a world of music clubs, girls, drugs and much more. A really entertaining night world, that can easily temptate anyone.This film is also somewhat well directed for the kind of film that is. It's a film worth seeing for everyone i think.
Late night partying with Weller
posted on 22 Jun 2002*SPOILER ALERT* *SPOILER ALERT*A gas station attendant is bored with his low paying, sober existence. Peter Weller pulls up in a black Porsche and proceeds to get this party started. He wants to show Balthazar how to have a good time in L.A. after dark. Weller knows where all the hidden parties are. They start slow with some bars and some strip clubs. It's just a little taste for Getty to get excited. Then they advance to underground fights and S&M clubs. Getty starts to lose his soul with the freaks in late night Los Angeles. It may be gone for good.Peter Weller knows how to party. This guy never sleeps. He loves getting as depraved as possible every night. Getty cannot resist the temptation to party in the Shadow Hours with Weller. That pretty much sums up "Shadow Hours". It's the Weller party hours. Rebecca Gayheart shows up as Getty's concerned, pregnant wife. She frowns on all of Getty's nightlife activities. She's a downer, total buzz kill. Thanks to Weller, Getty knows how to have a good time. The movie might be trying to be some sort of cautionary tale about living life too fast or it may just be a B-movie with some cheap thrills. Either way, I enjoyed it. It was a party. Like all movies that try to show you the downside of living wildly, they also have to show you the upside to a wild, wild life. Getty was having more fun with Weller than he was pumping gas. Sometimes, you just gotta cut loose, footloose, kick off those Sunday shoes. Oooh wee.
Not great, but not bad
posted on 10 Jun 2002My girlfriend and I found this in a DVD shop for £2. She'd never heard of it before, but I remembered reading a review of it a few years ago in Empire. They said it was like a very low-budget Fight Club. This film isn't as stylish as it would like to be, but it's still enjoyable. The performances were all pretty good. It was good to see Peter Weller playing this kind of character after seeing him as Robocop and Brad Dourif was great as usual. I would have probably been a little disappointed if I'd rented this, but having only paid £2 to buy it, I'm not complaining. One to watch when you've had a few beers and there's nothing on TV.
Makes Dante's Inferno look like Whinny The Pooh
posted on 24 Mar 2002Shadow Hours is the story of a recovering addict trying to get his life back together and prepare for the birth of his son. Michael (Getty) gets a job working the graveyard shift at a gas station where he meets Stuart (Weller) they soon become friends and begin to hang out at various strip clubs and other seedy places in the underbelly of LA. Michael soon realizes that Stuart is a psycho and maybe a serial killer. Shadow Hours is a decent into madness that leaves the viewer disturbed and very entertained. Sure its goofy, but I love it. BZAR rocks. Check it out!
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A great mood piece.
posted on 17 Nov 2008I 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