paul hackett ( griffin dunne ) be an attractive and unattached and upper middle class manhattan computer programmer . hop for a romantic adventure and paul arrange a date with a young woman who live in soho and a part of manhattan populate by people who prefer a more bohemian lifestyle . but paul lose all his money en route to the woman apartment . and the romantic encounter doesn not quite work out like he have hop . disappointed and paul just want to go back home . but fate have other idea . he become trap in a twilight zone of bizarre clash and surrealistic frustration . the entire story take place in the course of one night . few people be on the street and a it be a work night . and off and on rain add to a feeling of helplessness and entrapment in hades . the film mood alternate between subtle humor at the predicament paul have get himself into and and melancholy angst . griffin dunne be ideal a paul represent likable and smart and reasonable and slightly guilt ridden and out of his league in an underworld of non conformist and misfit and petty thief and and other human creature of the night . the message here be that one can be successful and comfy in a world of one own choosing and yet a foreigner and even view a a threat in a different setting . further and we be just one mistake away from the misery of a world where fate rule . the film acting and eclectic casting be fine . noir lighting be impressive . the film score be subtle . i especially like the song represent over the mountain and be that all there be . and both of which add to the film nightmarish atmosphere . the way paul lose his money be a little hokey . and the plot become increasingly silly and preposterous toward the end and a each subsequent frustration have to be continually bad than the previous one . overall and however and after hour be an enjoyable film . it be an especially good choice to gain a sense of perspective . not many ongoing experience can be bad than the rough night that paul have in soho .