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Since seeing Bruce Willis’ 1994 disaster Color of Night seems to be a rite of passage for only the most dedicated bad-movie enthusiasts, I finally got around to it last week—just 32 years after its original release. In the film, Bruce plays a psychotherapist who takes over the therapy group of his murdered friend and colleague in an effort to uncover the killer. As baffling as that premise sounds, the real highlight for me came when Bruce went jogging in a pair of 1991 Nike Air Huaraches in the original Scream Green colorway. The shoes even get their own close-up, proudly filling the screen in all their neon glory. For a Huarache fan, it was easily the best thing in the movie.
The Air Huarache is a special shoe to me. It was one of several iconic Nike models released during the year I essentially discovered the brand, alongside the Nike Air 180, Nike Air Max BW, and Nike Air Structure. The Air 180 was the flagship model with the premium price tag, while the Air Max BW quickly became a classic and remained a staple throughout the rest of the decade. The Huarache, however, was the one that stood out the most. Its futuristic design—with the exposed heel, rubber support strap, neoprene inner sock, and complete absence of the Nike Swoosh—made it the odd duck in Nike’s lineup.
I fell in love with it immediately and owned the White/Emerald/Resin/Blue colorway when it was re-released in 1992. It quickly became my favorite sneaker of all time. Over the years I’ve worn numerous colorways, and even today my daily shoes are a pair of Huaraches.
In Color of Night, the shoe is seen in its natural habitat as part of Bruce Willis’ running gear. Later, the Huaraches even make it into a swimming pool and effectively become part of one of the film’s infamous sex scenes. While the shoes receive a noticeable close-up, I doubt their appearance was the result of a product placement deal. The original Air Huarache debuted in 1991, while Color of Night wasn’t released until 1994. By that point Nike had already discontinued this version of the model and shifted its focus to the more conventional-looking Air Huarache Light. Its presence in the film feels less like marketing and more like a genuine wardrobe choice, which somehow makes the cameo even cooler.
