Martin Scorsese’s 1985 film After Hours offers a subtle yet compelling reflection of Homer’s Odyssey, intertwining the ancient epic’s core themes with a modern urban nightmare. Released after a turbulent period in Scorsese’s career, After Hours follows Paul Hackett, played by Griffin Dunne, as he endures a harrowing night in New York City’s SoHo district, struggling to find his way home. This portrayal echoes the universal journey of Odysseus, making the film a distinctive example of the ongoing influence of Homer’s work on contemporary storytelling.
While filmmakers like Christopher Nolan are preparing for more explicit adaptations—such as Nolan’s upcoming 2026 film The Odyssey—Scorsese’s version plays as an implicit yet rich homage. After Hours showcases how the themes and structure of the Odyssey remain highly adaptable, even when transposed to a 20th-century cityscape. The story’s emphasis on displacement, unexpected dangers, and the arduous quest for home mirrors Odysseus’ extensive, perilous journey across hostile lands.
Behind After Hours: Scorsese’s Artistic Reset During a Turbulent Time
Following the controversial cancellation of Paramount’s The Last Temptation of Christ, and amidst his personal battle with substance abuse, Martin Scorsese sought a fresh creative start. After Hours became that outlet—a stripped-back, independent project designed to reignite his passion for filmmaking. The film stars Griffin Dunne as Paul Hackett, a word processor caught in a bizarre series of misadventures in an unfamiliar neighborhood, attempting repeatedly and unsuccessfully to return home.
The cast includes notable names like Rosanna Arquette, Teri Garr, Catherine O’Hara, John Heard, and the duo Cheech & Chong. Their performances, combined with Scorsese’s dynamic camera work and dark humor, elevated After Hours to cult status, widely regarded as one of his best achievements. Though Kafka’s influence is obvious, the parallels with Homer’s Odyssey are significant: like Odysseus, Paul experiences a relentless string of obstacles, encounters with threatening strangers, and surreal episodes that keep him from reaching his destination.
Paul Hackett’s Night: A Contemporary Odyssey Through a Menacing Urban Landscape
Paul’s plight in After Hours recalls Odysseus’ epic voyage in several ways. His journey is framed by a longing to return home, a fundamental theme binding the ancient text to this modern tale. However, unlike Odysseus, Paul lacks a waiting family or loved ones such as Telemachus or Penelope, highlighting his isolation. Instead of vast Mediterranean seas and legendary islands, Paul navigates the quirky residences and ominous bars of New York’s SoHo, each location acting as a stand-in for the mythological territories Odysseus must traverse.
Throughout the film, Paul encounters a spectrum of characters—from fickle potential partners, cab drivers, and artists to subway workers and bartenders—who may either aid or hinder him, mirroring the unpredictable allies and foes Odysseus faces. Each narrowly averted escape or minor victory is followed by a new setback, underscoring the cyclical nature of his ordeal. In one memorable scene, Paul even disguises himself as a papier-mâché sculpture to evade a hostile mob, recalling Odysseus’ use of deception and disguise to outwit enemies such as Circe and the Phaeacians.
Christopher Nolan’s Upcoming Film and the Challenge of Faithful Adaptation
Christopher Nolan’s 2026 project The Odyssey aims to deliver a faithful, grand cinematic retelling of Homer’s epic, with Matt Damon portraying Odysseus. Having recently found acclaim with Oppenheimer, Nolan’s upcoming film promises to harness modern filmmaking technology like IMAX and a star-studded cast for a sweeping, mythologically rich narrative. This faithful adaptation contrasts with the more interpretive approach Scorsese took decades earlier with After Hours.
However, while Nolan’s film is expected to glorify the epic scope and themes of the ancient poem, some suggest that strict adherence to the source material might limit artistic innovation, especially given Nolan’s reputation for socially conscious and psychologically layered storytelling. Films like After Hours and the Coen brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou? have demonstrated that Homer’s Odyssey offers endless possibilities for reinterpretation, proving that its core narrative remains flexible and relevant in diverse settings.
Enduring Psychological Depth in Odyssey-Inspired Films
What sets After Hours apart is its focus on the psychological and existential aspects of Odysseus’ journey. The film conveys a sensation of paranoia, disorientation, and psychological torment similar to a fever dream—transforming the ancient myth into a modern, noir-infused urban odyssey. This psychological perspective complements Nolan’s more epic and visualized retelling, highlighting different dimensions of the same foundational story.
Regardless of the protagonist’s scale—be it a legendary king or a lone office worker—the theme of aimlessness and encountering unknown dangers remains a potent reflection of human experience. Scorsese’s After Hours captures the essence of this nightmarish odyssey, reminding audiences that journeys into the unknown, whether external or internal, are universal and timeless.
The Lasting Influence of Homer’s Odyssey on Cinema
By examining After Hours alongside upcoming adaptations like Nolan’s The Odyssey, it becomes clear that Homer’s ancient poem continues to inspire filmmakers across genres and decades. From Kafkaesque urban struggles to grand mythological spectacles, the Odyssey’s narrative has been reimagined in countless ways, proving its status as a foundational cultural text.
For Martin Scorsese, After Hours was both a personal rebirth and a creative experiment that reflected the myth’s themes without direct adaptation. Christopher Nolan’s forthcoming project signals a return to the epic’s grandeur but remains one part of a larger cinematic conversation that explores what it means to embark on a profound—and often perilous—journey home.
