A purely Lynchian dreamscape

Singlehandedly, I can not think of a better way to sum up the legacy that the great auteur David Lynch left behind; then the landscape of American filmmaking would’ve looked entirely different today without the benefit of his unparalleled vision and influential body of work. Inspiring creatives of all areas, he has managed not only to breakthrough the movie industry, and make a name for himself, but also to craft such a unique and effortlessly recognisable signature — peculiar even downright disturbing with many surrealist and experimental qualities — that the term Lynchian was coined in its honour. Missed but never forgotten, I, like so many, have spent the last couple of days eagerly absorbing his idiosyncratic oeuvre.

Mulholland Dr., 2001

Revolving around the cutthroat machinations and business that is Hollywood’s movie industry, this neo-noir feature film weaves the confusing and non-linear tale of a young amnesiac, played by Laura Harring, an aspiring actress, expertly portrayed by Naomi Watts, and features Justin Theroux as a director in the process of making a movie. Ranging somewhere between dream and reality, it is brimming to the top with surrealism and symbolism (so much, in fact, that Lynch was persuaded to create a card of clues for the original DVD release) and poignantly tackles themes of guilt, envy, depression, and mental health problems. Beloved by cinephiles worldwide, Mulholland Dr. is considered to this date his most haunting and influential feature.

Eraserhead, 1977

Praised as a masterful piece of indie cinema, Eraserhead is Lynch’s debut feature film. Set in an isolated and decrepit industrial landscape, this fantasy body horror centers around Henry and his angry girlfriend, who are trapped in a one-room apartment, grappling and coming to terms with caring for their newborn mutant lizard-like baby. Shot in stark black-and-white and haunted by wailing cries, Lynch drew influence from stories by Franz Kafka and Nikolai Gogol, which would explain the hypnotic, hallucinatory sequences. Alien yet simultaneously recognizable to everyone, it reads like a fever dream of the harrowing pressures and angst that accompany first-time parents, as well as life in general.

Blue Velvet, 1986

With its intense color palette, Blue Velvet resembles the photography of Guy Bourdin. Captivating and alluring, it stars Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, and Laura Dern in the leading roles. Named after the 1951 song of the same name, which was performed in the film by Rossellini, who portrayed a nightclub singer that is grappling with mental health problems caused by a cruel separation from her young son. Over time this sexually charged and sadomasochistic noir mystery thriller unfolds akin to a chess game with a femme fatale, an amateur sleuth, an evil nearly unstoppable villain, a morally questionable detective, and an eager high school student as the players making moves against one another.

The Elephant Man, 1980

Nominated for eight Academy Awards, this achingly beautiful drama is loosely based on the life of Joseph Merrick, a severely deformed English man who lived in the late 19th century. Starring John Hurt, Anthony Hopkins, and Anne Bancroft, it depicts societal cruelties, topples preconceived notions of intelligence, and teaches us not to judge a book by its cover (a lesson we hopefully all have learned by now). Merrick’s haunting words, “I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I am … a man!” are guaranteed to stay with viewers for the longest time. Shaped through the superb performances delivered by the leading actors, and showcasing the abominable treatment that 1880s Victorian Freak Shows artists received, this tear-jerker will definitely plug at your heartstrings.

Wild at Heart, 1990

Based on a 1990 novel of the same name by Barry Gifford, the romantic crime drama, Wild at Heart, is probably most commonly recognizable through the ‘wild dancing on a motel bed scene.’ Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern play a young couple on the run from his parole board and an assassin hired by her mother. Armed only with his snakeskin jacket, an indestructible resilience to adaptation, and their unbridled passion for one another, the lovers tackle any challenge that gets thrown at them head-on. A must-see feature, worth watching alone for the disturbing usage of red lipstick and the impactful references made to The Wizard of Oz, as well as the way that Lynch chose to utilize Elvis Presley’s love songs in his storytelling.

Twin Peaks, 1990-91

Created by Mark Frost and David Lynch, the ABC TV surrealist mystery series Twin Peaks is perhaps the auteur’s most critically acclaimed piece. Inspiring everything and everyone, including The Simpsons, the show depicts Kyle MacLachlan as Dale Cooper, an idiosyncratic FBI special agent on the hunt for answers in the murder of Laura Palmer. The small fictional lumber town Twin Peaks served as the perfect landscape to unfold this peculiar story. Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn, Lara Flynn Boyle, Peggy Lipton, and Sheryl Lee all left a mark with their powerful performances and impacted our fashion sense for generations. Between a prequel film, the original series, and multiple remakes, what more is there to say about David Lynch’s magnum opus? Then go ahead and watch it, if you haven’t done so already.