David Lynch’s passing doesn’t go unnoticed in the film realm. The legendary filmmaker behind classics likeMulholland DriveandEraserheadleft an imprint that will carry on for the rest of time. Although some of his stylistic choices were met with criticism, his bizarre storytelling tactics were what made him stand out as an artist.He unashamedly pushed boundariesand allowed audiences to go on introspective journeys through his work. For those who haven’t yet ventured into the director’s stellar filmography, or would like to revisit it in the wake of his death, here is a guide to all of his movies and where you can watch them.
Lynch’s first feature-length film is still considered one of his career bests,for its nightmarish storytelling style. Made up of surrealist images and nerve-wracking symbolism,Eraserheadcame out in 1977 and shocked audiences who attended its midnight screenings. The film follows Henry Spencer (Jack Nance), a factory worker who uncovers that he is going to be a father. As he marries and moves in with his ex-girlfriend, Mary X (Charlotte Stewart), the couple is later surprised to know that their baby is deformed. As they take care of the baby in the crux of an industrial wasteland, they are driven to madness given the child’s unusual wailing. Although the film can be unsettling to watch, especially towards the end, it is a visceral look at the anxiety that comes with being a new parent.
Eraserhead
Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.
‘The Elephant Man’ (1980)
Likely one of Lynch’s most traditional-like films when it comes to tone and form,The Elephant Mantells the story of John Merrick(John Hurt), who becomes the main attraction at a circus show, solely because of his looks. Given his physical deformities, the protagonist is put on display as a freak, with people paying just to see him. After Dr. Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins) crosses paths with Merrick, he takes him in to treat some of his wounds from being beaten by the freak show owner. Although the two grow close, it soon becomes clear that the physician isn’t as interested in the main character’s well-being as he leads others to believe. Based on the real-life John Merrick, this 1980 film draws viewers to think deeply about stigmatization and objectification. What does it mean to treat others for your own benefit, instead of embracing them for who they truly are?
The Elephant Man
A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of kindness, intelligence and sophistication.
Watch on Kanopy
‘Dune’ (1984)
BeforeDenis Villeneuvebreathed new life into theDuneuniverse, it was Lynch who first adaptedFrank Herbert’s novel to the screen. Although there is an ongoing debate between which version of events best represents the book, Lynch’s take continues to be praised for its visual ambitions and has since received cult classic status. Set in 1091, the film explores the rising tensions when Duke Leto Atreides (Jürgen Prochnow) becomes the new leader of Arrakis, a desert planet that hosts the most valuable spice in the universe. As Leto’s enemies (the Harkonnens) attempt to seize power, it is up to the leader’s son to safeguard his people and battle for control of Arrakis.
‘Blue Velvet’ (1986)
This highly-praised erotic thrillerhas Lynch once again collaborating withKyleMacLachlan(who played Paul Atreides inDune) and teaming up withLaura Dernfor the first time. InBlue Velvet, college student Jeffrey Beaumont (MacLachlan) goes back to his hometown after his father suffers from a stroke. One day, as he walks through the grassy meadow near his house, he finds an ear on the ground. As the authorities come to investigate it, Jeffrey befriends the daughter of the detective overseeing the case. When she shares that the severed ear might be in connection with a nightclub singer named Dorothy Vallens (IsabellaRossellini). Curious about her involvement in the crime scene, the protagonist invades her singer’s apartment and finds a world that is unknown to him, but that he is drawn to.
Blue Velvet
Watch on Max
‘Wild at Heart’ (1990)
Wild at Heartcan be described as Lynch’s version of Bonnie and Clyde. It similarly centers on an outlaw couple, Sailor (NicolasCage) and Luna (Dern), whose passion for one another overpowers their sense of judgment. As the pair meet up after Sailor is released from prison, they hit the road in the hopes of finally getting to be together forever. Yet, their ride off to the sunset isn’t as smooth as they wished. With Luna’s mother hiring a hit man to hunt Sailor down and the latter reuniting with his buddy Bobby Peru (WillemDafoe) to orchestrate a heist, the couple’s “happy ever after” is in trouble.Wild at Heartis the ideal watch for those who are into heated romances with a high dosage of adrenaline.
Wild at Heart
Rent on Fandango
‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me’ (1992)
The prequel tothe filmmaker’s revered sci-fi series,Twin Peaks, offers the necessary insight into what happened to Lara Palmer (Sheryl Lee) in her final days. Billed as the most visceral film Lynch ever made,Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Mefollows FBI Agent Chet Desmond’s (Chris Isaak) investigation into the murder of a teen girl. While inspecting the case, he mysteriously disappears, leaving the killer out on the loose and eyeing his next victim. The next person on the murderer’s radar is Lara, a local beauty who is bound to suffer from a grueling fate. The prequel dives into betrayal and disbelief, as Lara finds out that a person she trusted isn’t as innocent as she thought.
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
‘Lost Highway’ (1997)
The director crafts a compelling study on desire and envy inLost Highway, which came out in the late ’90s. The film focuses on two separate stories that intersect, due to the fact that the same actress (Patricia Arquette) plays both women at the core of these cautionary tales. One of the stories inLost Highwayis that of a saxophonist who is framed for his wife’s murder after he was tortured by the thought that she might be having an affair. While he faces death row, a young mechanic is released from jail and is once again drawn to trouble when he falls for a dangerous gangster’s girlfriend.
Lost Highway
Rent on Apple TV
‘The Straight Story’ (1999)
Aside fromThe Elephant Man,The Straight Storyis Lynch’s most toned-down filmin terms of visuals and complex narratives. Centered on Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth), a 73-year-old farmer who is very debilitated given physical injuries and other health struggles. When he finds out that his estranged brother had a stroke, the protagonist feels a sense of responsibility to reunite with him before it’s too late. Determined to travel to Iowa, despite his deteriorating health and vision loss, Alvin’s journey is shaped by the people he meets along the way. As he uses a lawnmower as a means of transportation, the main character’s only hope is that he can finish the trip without his body failing him.
The Straight Story
David Lynch’s Cameo as John Ford Is the Cherry on Top of ‘The Fabelmans’
David Lynch’s appearance as John Ford brings ‘The Fabelmans’ to a humorous and heartfelt conclusion.
‘Mulholland Drive’ (2001)
In 2001, Lynch released one of his finest works,Mulholland Drive, which was originally intended to be a TV show. Led byNaomi Watts, the film focuses on Betty, a Hollywood actress who sees her sense of self getting tarnished by the spotlight. After she moves to the titular street, she meets Rita (Laura Harring), a woman with amnesia who seeks refuge in her apartment. As these two women grow close, they become determined to find out the mystery behind Rita’s identity and what led her to lose her memory.
Mulholland Drive
‘Inland Empire’ (2006)
The last feature film directed by Lynch wasInland Empire, where the filmmaker once again reunited with his muse, Laura Dern. It was released with the tagline “woman in trouble”, which is a perfect way to describe the film’s main premise. Dern plays Nikki Grace, a fading movie star who gladly finds out that she has booked the role of the lead in a melodrama entitled “On High in Blue Tomorrows”. As she gets into character, the protagonist slowly loses consciousness. In this chaotic look into method acting, both Nikki and her co-star soon find out that the movie they sought to do is actually a remake of an unfinished film, in which the leads were murdered.
Inland Empire
