Into the Night (released in theaters on Feb. 22, 1985), directed by John Landis, is a shimmering, idiosyncratic slice of 80s neo-noir that captures the restless energy of Los Angeles after dark.
The story follows Ed Okin (Jeff Goldblum), an aerospace engineer suffering from a soul-crushing bout of chronic insomnia and the recent discovery of his wife’s infidelity.
Unable to sleep, Ed drives aimlessly to LAX, where his mundane life is shattered when a beautiful woman, Diana (Michelle Pfeiffer), leaps onto the hood of his car. Diana is a high-stakes smuggler fleeing from four Iranian hitmen who have already murdered her associate.
What follows is a frantic, night-long odyssey through the neon-lit underbelly of the city. Ed, paralyzed by apathy and exhaustion, finds himself the unlikely protector of the glamorous, desperate Diana.
As they navigate encounters with an aging starlet (Vera Miles) and a corrupt federal agent (Clu Gulager), Ed finds that the life-or-death stakes are the only thing capable of curing his lethargy.
The plot weaves through high-fashion circles and grimy docks, culminating in a violent confrontation over a set of smuggled emeralds that forces Ed to finally wake up to the world around him.
Dan Aykroyd, Richard Farnsworth, David Bowie, Kathryn Harrold, Bruce McGill, Carmen Argenziano, Jake Steinfeld and Art Evans round out the cast.
Numerous cameos include Rick Baker, Paul Bartel, David Cronenberg, Jonathan Demme, Amy Heckerling, Jim Henson, Lawrence Kasdan, Jonathan Lynn, Paul Mazurzky, Dedee Pfeiffer, Carl Perkins, Don Siegel and Roger Vadim.
While Landis was largely known for high-concept comedies like Animal House or The Blues Brothers, this film represents a pivot into a more sophisticated, albeit still absurdist, tonal space.
Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Pfeiffer in Into the Night (Photo/Universal Pictures)
Reception for Into the Night
Into the Night grossed $2.6 million on its opening weekend, finishing fifth at the box office.
The film would earn $7.6 million in its theatrical run.
Legacy
The legacy of Into the Night lies in its distinct “midnight movie” atmosphere and its role in cementing the screen personas of its leads.
It was one of the first films to showcase Goldblum’s singular brand of neurotic, stuttering charm in a leading man capacity, and it solidified Pfeiffer as a powerhouse who could balance vulnerability with lethal street smarts.
Beyond the performances, the film is celebrated for its soundtrack, featuring the soulful blues of B.B. King, which anchors the film’s erratic energy.
Today, Into the Night is remembered as a cult classic that perfectly encapsulates the “Yuppie in Peril” subgenre, blending suspense and droll humor into a stylish, sleepless dream.
