Who is the Mystery Man at the End of "After Hours"? 

"I wanna see a plaster of Paris bagel and cream cheese paperweight, now cough it up."

The steady cam guy bumped into something at the end of the shot so they added an extra second to the ending to match up with the music. The man with the black coat was most likely added to draw the viewers attention away from the continuity problem with the woman who disappears. Obviously it didn't work.

Maybe for Paul death is not physical but spiritual: represented by his return to a dull, dead-end, "normal" life.

I thought I overthought things.

I watched this film about a month ago and after watching your video as well as a few other video essays on the picture, I think you're right on the money. The man in the black coat is death and pretty much everything in the film up to that point supports that. You must treat the film through the lens of both The Wizard Of Oz and greek mythology. In the film, Paul is stuck in the river Styx in the same way that Dorthy is stuck in Oz. In simpler terms, SoHo is basically Limbo. Paul isn't dead, at least not yet, but he spends the entire film trying to avoid death and return to the land of the living. This is shown multiple times throughout the film but made most clear by Paul telling June that he wants to live while Peggy Lee sings "Is That All There Is?" And in the end, he makes it, that's why the computer tells him good morning. In the same way that Dorthy returns to Kansas by waking up, Paul has come back to life by waking up, maybe not literally but figuratively. But even after returning to the land of the living, death is still one step behind Paul, so he can never truly be at peace. It's honestly a little dishearting to read so many comments saying that you're wrong or just reading too much into it. You put a lot of effort into analyzing what is a small and easy to miss moment but a moment that enriches the film in such a deep way.

What a fun theory! Maybe Paul's shirt contains a hint too. He starts the night in a white shirt but, once he's entered the loft, he changes it to a black shirt. Maybe Scorsese is trying to show that Paul is then marked for death, who pursues him through the night in various guises.

I just watched this film on HBO max - I love the ending which is so funny - it's a wild and crazy film that's so good. Good work on seeing the Wizard of Oz connection - I totally missed that.

Sometimes a cup is just a cup

I like it. My friend and I had to do an analysis of this movie the week it came out for his film class. Walking out of the theater he was despondent. He told me it was a weird movie and he did not know where to begin. As we talked it out and started to see all the patterns Scorcese put in to the movie he started to see the genius behind the screenplay and the direction. So, yeah, I buy that Scorcese buried a very quick and obscure reference to death in the last few frames of the movie. For me the key to understanding the movie is the song 'Is That All There Is?' by Peggy Lee that the main character plays on the juke box as he dances with the sculptress at the end. The song is about a little girl who narrowly survives a house fire. As her father cradles her in his arms and she watches their house go up in smoke she thinks to herself 'Is that all there is to a fire?'

the guy in the black coat is the reaper... the scene in the CLUB BERLIN has Martin Scorsese in the same black coat shining a spot light on the Griffin Dunne character as he tries to escape MOHAWK NIGHT, this scene is right after the Rosanna Arquette has died... the man in the black coat (Martin Scorsese) is the grim reaper -- the entire film is about crossing the River Styx and not having the money to pay the ferryman (the cab driver in the Captain Hat/ the Subway Token Clerk) the film also has to do with the AIDs crisis which was just being noticed in the Summer of 1984 when the film was being filmed; the Griffin Dunne character asks that he just wanted to get laid does he have to die for it? the edit is intentional just like the eyeball in the rear view mirror at the end of TAXI DRIVER

You could be correct because in the original version the movie ends with him trapped in the statue, where presumably he’ll die. People, including Scorcese’s father, thought it was too dark, so he added the van scenes and this final scene.

Or Paul isn’t at his desk because he died much earlier in the film... his spirit just didn’t know it.

I love this theory, and it's certainly consistent with the film. But obviously, someone is going to have to ask Martin Scorsese or the incredible Thelma Schoonmaker.

I think Paul was killed by the crowd, remember when Gale reads on the neawspaper taped in his arm: " a man was disfigured by a crowd in Soho..." I loved your video btw, I didnt see the man on black coat until I found this.

I noticed this when I first saw the film in 1985 and many times after. My sense was that his nocturnal adventure jolted him enough that he could not go back to work there as a drone anymore. He was reborn in the morning climbing out of a paper mache egg. He was like a ghost when he walked back to his desk ... he was not really there. So when death came looking for him he was already gone. He decided to quit that day. Remember, the temp telling him at the beginning of the film that he could never work in a dull dead-end robot work environment like that. Our protagonist, Paul, was stunned a bit. That was his first realization that something in his world was off. In the next scene he was reading the book by Henry Miller who is regarded as the first modern hipster of the 20th Century (influenced the Beat poets, hippies, and Punks). During his adventure later that night, Paul dodged death at every corner and it was exciting. Despite the terror and anxiety, he had never felt so alive. You can either live to the fullest or die a slow boring death (a living death). Paul ultimately decided to bolt from his corporate prison and challenge himself. His life was safe up until then but he took a huge risk and quit his job. It was almost as if he had experienced a psychedelic which opened his consciousness.

WHAT!!??? I've seen this movie a bajollion times; never noticed this so called "guy in black coat..." AWESOME CATCH!!!!

that's a great catch, i also wanna point out other spirit symbolism i found in this movie: when Paul enters the appartment of Marcy and Kiki, there are two chekerboard pillows and a curtain of same style in the back.. than he messes up his white shirt and Kiki gets him a black shirt... btw Kiki is a brunette and Marcy is a blonde... also their clothes are white/black opposites too... moving on... when he's in the bar and reaches to the jukebox to get matches they are also chekerboard style made.. than when he got into the appartment again Kiki is wearing all black covered in white rope and the note they left him was written on black papper with white letters and he reported her death on a black phone with white numbers/letters... than when he see the bar is closed and went up to Julies place her couch has black and white style, her stove also and has a similar painting above it... and the BED is so easy to notice.. and than when he goes to the Berlin club u gonna guess what's the wall behind him? that's right chekerboard all over it.. than he goes to ms Gail condo the ice cream lady and she has black clothes hanging all over her white walls... also there are few more details with the skull symbol like the keys of the bartender his background in the bar has skull, Marcy had tattoo with it and Gail has it on the belt.. it may all be coincidence but I certainly doubt it!

I'll give you the "Death stalking Paul" tie in for the ending of the film but I think the glitchy continuity of the take is much simpler to explain. There is obviously a couple of floor outlets in the pathway as you get to the Man in Black's cubicle. I bet you the steady-cam operator tripped on one of them on the best overall long take and they were forced to use the end of another take to complete the shot. That's why the woman vanishes and the shot perspective jumps ever so slightly.

The camera couldn't get around that corner, and they knew there would be an edit and a break in continuity. Today, they would use digital compositing to superimpose a person walking across, to cover the edit. They needed a quick fix, so they just had someone cross the shot as a distraction, at the edit point.

I think he is Mr. Digman, the boss his apprentice talks in the first scene. Curiously, the first frame of the movie show this exact spot from the "opposite" angle. And with the same music. It ends where it begins. This masterpiece is all about Eros and Thanatos in a freudian way.

Solid analysis. I have seen this movie probably 20 - 30 times and never noticed the man in black! I think your Death speculation is pretty spot on...

Obviously Soho is the underworld so it's The Wizard of Oz inverted. Paul is sick of the East Side so he goes under and lands on Marcy the good witch. Julie and June, the wicked witches attempt to keep him in Soho while Gail the good witch is deceived and tries to kill him for crimes he did not commit. The Wizard is Lloyd the word processor who left Soho to create a magazine for writers who can't get published anywhere else but finding no positions available he resorted to word processing which is why he was at the office the next morning. I wonder how everyone missed that?

You've just made me a subscriber! :) Loved this video. Watched this quirky film years ago with my Mom & really liked it. Strange for me because I mostly love pre 1950 movies (with a few exceptions), but this one, I enjoyed :) Great video, I'll watch more. :)

After seeing so many weird things happen in this movie my theory is everything what happened after Paul's visit to Marcy was part of his imagination because he smoked that Colombian joint. He underestimated it by saying it wasn't Colombian and might even not be a pot at all as he didn't feel high in the first couple seconds. It was like 'judging a book by it's cover' situation. I like to look at this movie this way as it makes more sense to me. It's because director is Scorsese and not Gilliam. P.S. I like your observancy and your theory. P.P.S. You have lots of awesome videos on channel, why you stopped uploading?

My theory is that it’s Paul all along. He got up from his desk during the take, went to the back to put on an overcoat to cover his dirty suit and was heading back to his desk. Where did the black overcoat come from and why was it at the office already? Who knows? Paul knew, so he simply went and got it to look more presentable at work and not lose his job.

Great theory. That shot is super creepy. I haven't seen this film in 10 years and never noticed it before

Strange is that mysterious man wears overcoat backwards you can see shiny bottoms, it is straight-jacket, movie is about madness of NY.

We're through the Looking Glass here, people!

With all the Wizard of Oz references - why is this not simply an allusion to the witch? Looks more or less the same

This was a fun video. Enjoyed the deep dive.

I love the forensic levels of analysis you devoted to this moment. I agree that the man in the black coat is most likely Death. Did he get Paul or not? I don't know, but I definitely know this moment isn't a mistake. Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker (Scorsese's brilliant editor) would rather die themselves than be so sloppy with the last frame of their movie. They could have cut out of this sequence or dumped it altogether rather than splice in a random, meaningless shot. I think this shot is full of meaning, and I think Scorsese put it there so we can all enjoy pondering over it. Thanks, Marty. This shot almost makes the entire movie go up another level for me (and "After Hours" is already wonderful).

This should have more views and this movie should have a strong audience.

The man in the black coat was looking to get out of there before Bill Lumbergh confronted him and asked him to work the whole weekend. ("Peter. Whaaaaat's happening?")

The Man in Black? He's found in the "Mirror Mirror" episode of "Amazing Stories", which Scorsese directed right after completing "After Hours", with screenplay written by Joseph Minion. Watch that episode, and you'll have your answer. It's a must for anyone who is obsessed with this film.

On the right sleeve of death it looks like he is carrying a sickle too... It is the sleeve tie but is curved like a sickle. Your explanation makes total sense.

The final second of the best take got ruined, they only had one other good take that followed the same path so closely so there wouldn't be a jump but sadly had a random guy walking with a coat on. It was the best they could do with what they had.

I think someone just came to work that morning wearing a black tench coat.

This is pretty wacky and obsessive. I love it!

thats not an error, thats just an effect to the sensation of the movement of the office

You've cracked the code, buddy.

The title can only add to the last theory.

Great theory. It totally fits with the film!

I'm glad someone else noticed this, I've seen this movie at least 20 times and it's bugged me since I noticed it. I think it's actually Paul coming into work. The movie was a nightmare after he fell asleep bored in his apartment. It would also explain the quick cut, and Paul suddenly missing from his desk, to register that we are now in reality. The nightmare ends, the real Paul enters, film ends.

I never complain about my day after this movie. Classic. Poor guy. One of my favs

Very cool observation. It makes the movie even better. I'd also say that if this was a Stanley Kubrick film you'd probably be right on the money.

Paul is trapped in a repeating time loop -- just like in the movie "Groundhog Day". When "the man in the black coat" appears, Paul makes a jump back in time to the starting point of the film: Paul is in a everlasting nightmare!

A great perspective. I missed this gem but now will have to watch it. To be fair, the trailer never landed with me.

This movie is like a "Rollercoaster" it starts slow than start to take pace than there is just chaos and chaos to end. Absolutely loved it. ❤

I love the theory about death. This film has always been one of my top three Scorsese films, and this level of interpretation just goes to show what a fantastic movie it is.

Great job.

Great analysis and video. I agree, there is it seems a theme of death -- and imprisonment like a classic noir film -- present in After Hours. Also, I think there appears to be a parallel between Henry Miller's novel, Tropic of Cancer, featured in the film and the film's theme. In one excerpt of the book, it speaks to both death and imprisonment, something reflected in After Hours. "Boris has just given me a summary of his views. He is a weather prophet. The weather will continue bad, he says. There will be more calamities, more death, more despair. Not the slightest indication of a change anywhere. The cancer of time is eating us away. Our heroes have killed themselves, or are killing themselves. The hero, then, is not Time, but Timelessness. We must get in step, a lock step, toward the prison of death. There is no escape. The weather will not change." -- Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer

some people have too much time on their hands

What a catch

Why don't you simply warm up your word processor and write a memorandum to Martin Scorsese and ask him? You could probably print it out, sign it, stamp it, and get it in the mailbox before the last pickup of the day.

Maybe Scorsese just pulling a Hitchcock? Or is that too mundane for him?

I never noticed this man at the end.

I think you're right about death tarot card. I've seen an excellent video on how the movie Groundhog Day is based on the tarot cards.

it looks like the man is carrying a weapon, that grim reaper thing

I always thought Paul put on his overcoat and left the office for good.

It was a cameo Scorsese himself, as simply his signature added to the bottom of his painting.

The man in the black coat was Agent Smith. He was looking for Neo.

ESTO ES LO MEJOR QUE ENOCNTRE EN RU-vid HOY!

When the camera pans around, Paul is gone!

Just saw the movie in my hotel. It’s one of these movies you have to watch in a hotel. Anyway, your review was awesome.

He is the judge who issued the sentence the night before, in the good style of Kafka

I don't believe it means death, but I do believe is has a meaning, don't know what it is.

he is one of the original judges from kafka's trial, timelord style

Black coat man is an extension of charcter later used in Martin Scorseses short of Amazing Stories

"ocd cinephilia"

The thing on his jacket sleeve kind of looks like a scythe to me.

"if the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will!! " speed of light vs speed of sound vs speed of thought , vs the Way the Truth the Life which death cannot hold!

I love this one . Every time I see it there is always something that I didn't CB4. Some of the hidden subliminal things are subliminal hooks that make some people have 2C what is it that they have missed . Only a small portion of peeps feel the hook . 4me the female cast , in the 80s, so crazy beautiful ! & yes maybe I got a thing 4crazy chicks , In the 80s 😁😆... ... The code speaks to the select few. ☆Welcome to the Club ☆.

What if that's grim reaper taken his soul that's why his life goes from normal to awful, Paul says a few times that he doesn't want to die, wt if he's already dead grim reapers took his soul he just doesn't know it yet

Anything worse in a comments section (barring the absolute extreme) than people needlessly making smug remarks like, "Some people have way too much time on their hands"? There's every chance that the reason is, as the top comment says, a fix for a continuity error, but there's nothing wrong in theorising. It's not even as if this one feels remotely as pretentious as others do. On a hyper-analytical level, I can fully get on board with Jeff's final theory because that sudden cut is very jarring, at least once you are made aware of it. On the other hand, if I were to look at it from a more laidback point of view, I'd defer to this interview Scorsese did (w/minimal bits from a colleague, whose name I couldn't catch, sorry) - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1CProHhddH0.html - which sees him refer to how he felt the need to adjust his filmmaking process, mostly in terms of shooting days (i.e. massively cutting down on them), to adapt so that he could then gain new opportunities to direct big films again. Mentioned in this is i/v, also, is the fact that the original cut was 2h40 long, so a lot of time was spent chopping footage. For now, though, unless there's a definitive answer out there from the man himself, I'm happy to let the theorised reason be the reality. Also: nice point about the Wizard of Oz stuff - I had something lingering in the back of my mind about what the visual cues were trying to convey but I hadn't fully connected the dots, however, it now makes more sense. Good work.

I think that man is Sandman. The all film is Paul's dream. ;)

one of the best films ever made,its just brilliant

It's funny you theorize the person in black was Death In After Hours. For I saw the guy as not so much death personified but a guy getting up to try to hurt or slay Paul. Interesting take here though.

Interesting. Not noticed this before.

Buen trabajo; comparto tu teoría, aunque suene muy rebuscada y con pocos segundos dedicados a la muerte en esa escena final

The steady cam camera ran out of film because they were moving so fast shooting they gambled on having enough stock for the take. It ran out, they knew it was the best take so the put a guy in a black coat and wanted him to cross and black out the frame so they could continue with an extension of the shot. This is what they did in Hitchcock’s Rope. The extra crossed early. There was no video feed and they didn’t realize the cross didn’t work. They stuck with the best steady cam take they had and said screw it and left the jump cut. Also, they came back to do this scene because the original ending with the van speeding off with Paul encased in the plaster tested terribly so they needed a “happy ending” or at least a “happier ending”. So, there is the truth. Also, we landed on the moon.

Paul is dead.

Simple. We live in a simulation, that’s neo from the matrix and Martin was just paying tribute to a future film he knew about 🤷‍♂️

Nah this is exactly like 10 years in London in my youth condensed into one night. I imagine NY in the same period was very similar. Unless my experience was some trip into Hades I wasn’t aware of.. I think the comments re steady shot tracks are right on the money. The man isn’t carrying a bag because the woman who disappears isn’t either. He is wearing black coat because she is too. Also the white sleeves. It’s a hasty cover for the bad cut, guys. Will someone with a connection just go and ask Mr Scorsese and settle it. Great movie!

Maybe Paul became the joker after that

Can someone recommend me same type of movies from 80s 90s ?

Amazing

there's more than one cut in that shot. i'm sure it doesn't mean anything. maybe the lady walking toward the camera looked too much like a new character being introduced, and they just edited something together quickly with another take, so it would end on a person walking away from camera

It's really ominous, I love stuff that is very subtly unsettling.

What if this cut wasnt planned and it was like literal Death.

No, this was my life and still is to a certain extent....without all of the intrinsic morbid details now of course..but always one step ahead....for now.

INTERESANTE.

My opinion: you are waaayyyy overthinking a cool rhythmic cut.

Wow

My immediate take was that the man in black at the end of them film is Scorsese himself? Isn't he wearing the same coat as when he's manipulating the spotlights at the punk club?

You got out of line, you got whacked. Everybody knew the rules. But sometimes, even if people didn't get out of line, they got whacked. Marcy was a mad girl and Paul wasn't.

What are those two small boxes on the floor, right in front of death? They don't belong there.

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

I wish my mum had an upper hand on death 4 years ago...😢😢😢

Looks like a priest to me. Scorsese likes to include religious connotation with most of his movies. Then again we are all guessing? Looks like we.will have to put this question to Scorsese himself. I have once had the privilege of being at a Scorsese lecture at the National theatre of British Film institute. It was amazing! He talks really fast.

What makes you think that it's a man? I first thought, that it was a woman before you actually started pointing them out.