Mulholland Drive (2001)

I know that I haven’t posted anything in a couple of days. With this being the start of travel softball season for Jo and the girls of Prestige Worldwide, I have been busy with practices and tournaments. However, after returning home rather early from a tournament, I decided that I would jump back into it. My selection was easy. While it has been some time since I revisited the world of David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive (2001), but with the release of Twin Peaks: The Return, I figured it was about time.

Plot/ After a car wreck on the winding Mulholland Drive renders a woman amnesiac, she and a perky Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angeles in a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality.

It is hard to believe that this film was originally filmed as a pilot. Fortunately, it was not picked up as a series. While I am not saying this as a negative, because it would have made a hell of a series, I am saying it because it allowed Mulholland Drive to grow into one of David Lunch’s best films. While some may not enjoy it due to the strange and twisted storyline that many find confusing, others (like me) will find it a fascinating journey into the surreal. The performances are solid, the story effortlessly transitions from a bizarre landscape into a nightmare, the soundtrack is perfect, the technical aspects are marvelous, and the entire entry is an example of true cinematic mastery. Yes, it does get confusing, but that us but a minor speed bump in what is a truly entertaining flick. In the end, Mulholland Drive in many ways is the best movie from the master of surrealistic cinema, David Lynch. This is a film that must be seen, if you haven’t, you are missing out.

Lost Highway (1997)

Once I completed After the Static, I decided that I wanted to rework/edit Walking Before Dawn, and I finished last week. Today, I was excited when I saw the reworked cover design for that book and should see it released in the next few weeks. To go along with that excitement, I decided to watch one of my favorite Lynch films: 1997s Lost Highway.

Plot/ After a bizarre encounter at a party, a jazz saxophonist is framed for the murder of his wife and sent to prison, where he inexplicably morphs into a young mechanic and begins leading a new life.

Like many, I am excited to have Twin Peaks coming back to the television in May. David Lynch is my favorite filmmaker and I am fascinated by everything he does. To me, this is one of his best films and a great example of bringing dreams and nightmares to life within the cinematic world. This journey into surreal has an extremely layered storyline with multiple things happening throughout, the cinematography is amazing, the performances solid, there is a great soundtrack, and the overall atmosphere brings everything to life. This is truly a masterful piece of filmmaking. Yes, as with every film by Lynch, it is definitely not for everyone with a myriad of storylines, strange twists, and endings that often leave non-fans scratching their heads wondering what is taking place. In the end, this is a great film and one that should be seen. Yes, there may be some confusing moments, but it is well worth.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

Every once in a while I become frustrated when plans go awry. Today was one of those, as I thought I finished a large portion of my children’s book writing assignment, only to discover that the piece I chose to create my adaptation from sat outside the criteria (who knew, we could not use Edgar Allan Poe’s, A Dream Within a Dream, and adapt it into a children’s book). In an attempt to relieve some of those frustrations, I decided to take a trip into the mind of David Lynch, with his 1992 entry Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

Plot/ A young FBI agent disappears while investigating a murder miles from Twin Peaks that may be related to the future murder of Laura Palmer; the last week of the life of Laura Palmer is chronicled.

It has been a while since I ventured into Twin Peaks, and for some reason, it started to call to me tonight. Instead of grabbing the box set, I decided to dive into Fire Walk With Me again, and again I was left amazed. I am a huge fan of David Lynch, and Fire Walk With Me is a perfect example why. Every time I watch it (or any other Lynch film in my collection), I see something new and it makes everything a little clearer. In fact, that ideal to me, sits at the heart of this, one of his most underrated films. Open your eyes and let your intuitions take over, and everything will clear. Fire Walk With Me has an outstanding cast, an interesting and dark storyline, along with the trademark dark atmosphere, outstanding soundtrack, and tight cinematography. Yes, like many other films by Lynch, you have to pay attention to the details, or you will likely miss something and unfortunately, that leaves out a large portion of movie watchers today. If you can pay attention to the details, you should love it. In the end, this may be one of the most dark and stylish films in the Lynch catalog, and is a movie that must be seen. If you have not seen it, check it out (especially with a return to Twin Peaks on the horizon).

Chained (2012)

 

 

It is Christmas Eve and I am waiting on the kids to go to sleep; something that always seems to take forever. While waiting, I decided to throw in a movie to pass my time. Now, I could have gone many different ways, but in the end, I decided on the 2012 psychological thriller Chained.

 

 

Plot/ Bob, a cab-driving serial killer who stalks his prey on the city streets alongside his reluctant protégé Tim, who must make a life or death choice between following in Bob's footsteps or breaking free from his captor.

 

 

This was the first time that I ventured into the mind of Jennifer Lynch. For me, as a total fan of her father David Lynch, I had hoped that some of his genius would soak through, and to me, it did just that. This movies it not your typical horror or slasher flick about a serial killer, it is a much more realistic decent into the darkness. More of a psychological thriller than horror, this movie has a lot to like. The atmosphere is heavy and dismal, the acting is top notch, the direction is spot on and storyline is disturbing and genuine. Sure, there is some odd pacing that seems to drag at times, but to me that just built the tension throughout the flick.  In the end, if you are searching for a straightforward slasher, stay away. However, if you are looking for an unsettling journey into the world of a serial killer give this one a shot.  

 

 

Carnival of Souls (1962)

Time to continue with some of the classics I have on hand. Today’s choice was Carnival of Souls, the 1962 Herk Harvey entry that has influenced greats such as George Romero and David Lynch.

Plot / Mary Henry is enjoying the day by riding around in a car with two friends. When challenged to a drag, the women accept, but are forced off a bridge. It appears that all are drowned, until Mary, quite some time later, amazingly emerges from the river. After recovering, Mary accepts a job in a new town as a church organist, only to be dogged by a mysterious phantom figure that seems to reside in an old run-down pavilion. It is here that Mary must confront the personal demons of her spiritual indifference.

Like the movie in my last review,I Bury the Living, this classic is also more of an episode of the Twilight Zone than “B” Movie horror, and it also remains a great example of what can be done on a limited budget. This movie cries atmosphere, with some great locations used throughout. Yes, there are some low points with some average acting and sub par editing, but overall, this remains a very influential flick. One that took a thin story, and made something that has stood the test of time rather well.

Happy Birthday - David Lynch

When I finally sat down to relax today after spending another day in the hospital with Scarlet Circus Ring Mistress and wife Brenda, I discovered that today was Director David Lynch’s birthday. As a huge fan, I would be remiss if I did not mention him in some way. As a writer, I have found that Lynch’s work has been a tremendous influence on my style and in the way I see scenes develop in my head.

Honestly, I have been hooked on his movies since I saw The Elephant Man, and told my mother (an art major) that it was the most beautiful movie I had seen (since The Fog - OK, my vision of beauty in cinema has been skewed for a while now). The next thing I remember was seeing a picture of the ear from Blue Velvet in my Fangoria Magazine. From there, I couldn’t get enough of his movies and television efforts.

It is strange but I often feel like many horror fans have overlooked his work. Yes, the surrealistic elements and confusing story lines can be difficult to follow to a casual observer, but, on a deep level, some of the characters and terror elements are genius. The scene with Robert Blake in Lost Highway is amazing (as is that entire film), the character development and story lines in Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive is incredible and his latest film Inland Empire may be the best of them all.

However, it is his movie Nadja (he executive producer and acting extra) that many horror (especially vampire fans) should check-out. The story is simple, twin brother and sister vampires struggle against each other - and the ancient curse that binds them - in this stylish, erotic thriller set against the concrete canyons of modern-day Manhattan. Fiendishly seductive Nadja (Elina Lowensohn), and brother Edgar (Jared Harris), spend their days entombed in darkness, and their nights hiding in the heart of the New York afterhours scene. But Edgar is haunted by the painful duality of life lived in the shadows - and troubled by his twin's relentlessly evil nature. Nadja weaves her sensual spell around the niece and nephew of famed vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Fonda), Edgar joins forces with his would-be-assassin, plotting to bring down his sister in an all-out orgy of sex, blood, danger and death that the L.A. Weekly calls "Truly hot! Sex and moviemaking of the unsafest sort." (description from Lynchnet).

While I didn’t see the all-out orgy, I was blown away by the eeriness and beauty created with such an undead tale. Written and directed by Michael Almereyda, the luminous photography filmed with a combination of black & White and includes sections filmed with a toy Pixelvision cameras, adds an air of imagery that is rarely seen in horror movies. While many would discount the movie as more artsy than horror, the elements and story are extremely disturbing (like much of the underlining themes in Lynch’s work). More importantly for horror fans and Lynch fans that may have overlooked this film, it can be purchased on Amazon for as little as $3.00.