was an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker's 'The Primrose Path'
Anyone ever read Bram Stoker's first novel (the 1875 Faustian tome "The Primrose Path")?
I read it on my own during undergrad and it's one of Stoker's best works.
Well, SHADOW HOURS (effectively) is a modern adaptaion of the film.
I can only imagine Peter Weller (whose performance in this film is trumped only by his stellar turns in Cronenberg's NAKED LUNCH and in Verhoeven's original ROBOCOP) knew this when signing on, as he teaches history courses at Syracuse University when not acting. Weller is a man of the world and I am sure the film's (uncredited) literary origins are of no mystery to him.
If you get the chance, READ THE BOOK and discern the elements that transfer.
I think you'll be pleasantly delighted.
Also, I've noticed there was a thread on here asking if Weller's character was The Devil.
Well, in Stoker's novel it was unclear (though heavily implied) whether or not this character is The Devil, but in SHADOW HOURS that ambiguity is left to the viewer's imagination.
What's brilliant about the film is that most viewers go into it not thinking that it will be a supernatural tale, simply looking at it as a dark drama, but, as the film unwinds, it's a nice juxtaposition between the first and second act and the third act. I think the scene where Weller and Getty have a row and Weller walks away mumbling to himself before jumping in his car and trying to run Getty over is telling. Listen, closely, to what he says. Put on the closed captions. In this speech, I believe, the writer meant to imply that Weller's character is The Devil, but not as perceived as we know it in religious texts and beliefs.
At any rate, the best part of this film (and the works of men like David Cronenberg, Lucky McKee, David Lynch, Richard Kelly and Frank Grow) is that not all the answers are on the screen or in the script. The art and information is there... we interpret and make of it what we will... and, man, but SHADOW HOURS is a fun, haunting and powerful ride...