Few filmmakers have approached the craft the way David Lynch has. His non-narrative storytelling and imaginative approach to film forever changed television and the silver screen and have left a profound impact on filmmakers old and new.
Here are some of the works Lynch left as part of his unique legacy.
“Eraserhead” (1977)
Lynch’s first feature film remains one of his most unique, unsettling and dark. While the film comments on topics ranging from parenthood to the nuclear family, the film is ultimately a response to Lynch’s distaste for the industrial and bleak nature of Philadelphia in the 1970s.
The film follows new father Henry Spencer (Jack Nance), whose uncanny domestic interactions paired with the unpleasant cries of his mutant child create a suffocating environment for our protagonist. Lynch implements many of his trademarks in this film, such as long interpretive dream sequences and bizarre prosthetic effects.
“Blue Velvet” (1986)
“Blue Velvet” may well be Lynch’s most personal and biographical film. It takes place in North Carolina and follows two teenagers in the suburbs as they delve into the mysteries of a tormented Italian singer’s life, after finding a severed ear in a field.
Most of the film takes place in the suburbs, where Jeffery (Kyle MacLachlan) and Sandy (Laura Dern) both wonder what dark secrets lay beyond the seemingly perfect walls.
While it’s one of Lynch’s most standard films, it remains one of his most popular due to the great cast, with performances from both Dennis Hopper and Isabella Rossellini.
“Twin Peaks” (1990)
While Lynch’s filmography has offered some of the most mind-bending films of the last fifty years, “Twin Peaks” is by far his most beloved work.
The show spanned for two seasons in the early 1990s with an additional third season, containing 22 episodes, entitled “The Return” in 2017. Additionally, in 1992 Lynch produced “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me,” a two-hour complimentary film and prequel to the show.
MacLachlan, one of Lynch’s favorite reccuring actor, plays the endearing leading man, FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, who is assigned to the small, quaint Washington town of Twin Peaks after a high-school girl is mysteriously found dead.
“Lost Highway” (1997)
The director’s seventh feature film, “Lost Highway,” is Lynch at his most refined. While still featuring his absurdist and surrealist trademarks, this neo-noir thriller acts as one of the defining entries in his filmography.
He explores the tropes he had perfected in his previous work, such as the dream state, doppelgangers, infidelity, conspiracy and eccentric side characters. It feels as if Lynch puts all of his best ideas into one film. But, his most critically successful film was only a few years down the road.
“Mulholland Drive” (2001)
Filming for “Mulholland Drive” began in early 1999 and continued on and off until late 2000. The film starred young Australian actress Naomi Watts as the lead Betty, a big eyed midwesterner who dreams of being a star in Hollywood. Her idyllic life is turned upside down when amnesia-ridden Rita (Laura Harring) randomly shows up at her apartment. From there, the story follows Betty and Rita’s journey through Los Angeles as they uncover more than they might have wanted.
The film is incredibly atmospheric and stylized and is by far Lynch’s most critically aclaimed work. The complex, non-linear narrative grabs the viewer from the first frame and relentlessly leads you on a cinematic journey that explores idolatry, sexuality, fame and guilt.
“Inland Empire” (2006)
In typical Lynch fashion, his final feature film was probably his strangest, and uniquely all shot on an SD camcorder.
While this exact creative choice is questionable to say the least, it works, giving the project a found footage effect. It feels like you are walking with each character, which adds to the overall anxiety of the movie.
“Inland Empire” stars long time Lynch collaborators Dern and Justin Theroux. It follows Dern, who plays a big Hollywood actress, as she becomes more and more like the character she is playing. Strange occurrences over the course of the film lead to a shocking and startling climax.
After “Inland Empire,” Lynch took a step back from directing. He would come back to direct “The Return” in 2017, but besides a few shorts Lynch was fairly quiet from the late 2000s and up through the 2010s.
Lynch passed away at the age of 78 on Jan. 16, from complications related to emphysema. A lifelong smoker, Lynch’s health deteriorated in his later years.
Despite his passing, Lynch’s legacy lives on. During the COVID-19 lockdown, his YouTube channel became a consistent outlet for his thoughts, art and daily weather reports from Los Angeles. His eccentric musings and creative insights provided comfort to fans during a time of uncertainty.
His channel, along with his vast filmography, remains as a lasting connection to the filmmaker’s unique voice, offering an intimate space for fans to continue experiencing his work and wisdom.
This article was edited by Alia Messina, Marina Zaczkiewicz and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks and Olivia Citarella.
