American Gigolo
Schrader has described the film as a "man and his room" story like "American Gigolo" and his most famous screenplay, Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver". In this film his character is dealing with anxiety over his life and the external forces that threaten it. "Light Sleeper" also shares with "American Gigolo" an ending reminiscent of Robert Bresson's "Pickpocket", in which the imprisoned hero is shown contemplating a new and hopefully better existence.