Directed by David Lynch
Written by David Lynch
1977/US
IMDb page
First viewing/Amazon Prime rental
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
One of 1000 Greatest Horror Movies on They Shoot Zombies, Don’t They
Mary X: You wouldn’t mind marrying me, would you Henry?
Henry Spencer: Well… No.
David Lynch’s feature debut is a dark surrealist nightmare with a very obscure plot and spectacular staging, cinematography, and effects.
When he is not on vacation as he is currently, Henry Spencer (Jack Nance) works in a printing plant. He is passive and eccentric in the extreme. He is dating Mary, who is also very strange. The grime of the urban wasteland in which he lives is echoed in the soundtrack of industrial noise which grows stronger to accompany key moments in the film.
One night Henry comes home to his apartment and is told by his sexy across the hall neighbor that Mary has called and invited him to meet her parents at a dinner they are hosting. At the extremely awkward dinner, Henry learns that Mary has given birth and the child is his. He agrees to marry Mary.
The “baby” is a deformed alien looking creature. While the cries and noises of the baby are not out of the ordinary, they drive Mary crazy and she goes home to mother. Henry is left to tend to his offspring alone. Immediately, the baby becomes really ill and starts making wheezing noises etc. It breaks out in spots.
Henry copes as best he can and has numerous adventures in his own mind.
For all its critical acclaim, I was not looking forward to watching this film. I tend to hate surrealist movies with little plot. In addition, there are long sections with no dialogue. But I’m so glad I gave it a chance. The images are stunning and destined to linger in the memory. The poster says it is a “horror” movie but it is so much more. The film clearly perfectly achieved the creators’ intent, and that is enough for a recommendation from me.
I clearly remember when “Eraserhead” was the midnight movie in Los Angeles. Like you, I never saw it. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate David Lynch. Maybe it is time to give it a try. . . .
David Lynch works better for me when he is telling a straight forward story. But Eraserhead is genius. I don’t know why I never thought of it as a horror movie but that’s what it is really. No jump scares but plenty of disturbing and downright disgusting imagery.
I love some surrealist movies. I love Jean Rollin’s brand of surrealism and I love Alain Robbe-Grillet’s brand as well. Strangely enough the surrealist movies I do like are mostly from directors who are considered a bit disreputable.
Eraserhead however was just too weird for me. And not too many movies are too weird for me!
I wasn’t looking forward to Eraserhead. But for some reason on that given day it was not too weird for me. It helped to kind of look at it as a horror movie.
You are so right, the cinematography and the soundscape are amazing. It is disturbing in a way that you do not really need to understand what this is about. You feel it without consciously understanding it.
I have now caught up with you and am ready to embark on 1978, starting with Jimmi Blacksmith.
Hurray! Jimmie Blacksmith is one of those I haven’t seen yet. I’ve got about half of the movies on my original short list for the year left. I’m also starting a William Wyler film festival for evenings with my husband. I was amazed at how much I liked Eraserhead. I know you aren’t looking for extras anymore probably but may I suggest the re-make of Invasion of the Body Snatchers? It’s different from but as good as the original.
Yes, i got 78 covered. In fact ther were so many movies I wanted to add that I had to make some tough choices.
A Wyler theme sounds like a great ideas. There is so much to choose from and you could go on for weeks.
Posting my first 1978 film right now!