Cinema As Language: The Films Of David Lynch

David Lynch was a groundbreaking artist who defied the rules of filmmaking and created a new cinematic language that had not been seen before. He dared to be different and never wavered from his artistic integrity.  A master of surrealism his work has influenced all popular culture, from television to music. The Roxy Cinema is proud to showcase the films of David Lynch as he has created a new artistic style all his own. His work leaves a true legacy and will continue to inspire for generations to come. He will forever live on in all our hearts.

Wild At Heart (1990)

A surreal and chaotic road movie that blends romance, crime, and dark fantasy elements. The story follows Sailor Ripley (Nicolas Cage) and Lula Pace Fortune (Laura Dern), two passionate lovers who embark on a journey across the American South to escape the violent and obsessive forces chasing them. Sailor, a charismatic but troubled man recently released from prison, and Lula, a free-spirited woman, are in love but find themselves pursued by Lula’s overbearing, dangerous mother, Marietta (Diane Ladd), and other sinister figures.

As the couple travels, they encounter strange and sometimes violent characters, with their relationship constantly tested by the threats around them. The film is known for its dreamlike and surreal narrative style, rich symbolism, and an underlying exploration of fate, desire, and the darker sides of human nature. The movie blends Lynch‘s signature quirky, bizarre visuals with moments of tenderness, humor, and horror, creating a wild, unpredictable cinematic experience.

Wild at Heart is a cult classic, celebrated for its unique storytelling and performances, particularly the chemistry between Cage and Dern. It won the Palme d’Or at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival.

Blue Velvet (1986)

A dark, psychological thriller that explores the seedy underbelly of suburban America. The story begins when college student Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) discovers a severed ear in a field. This mysterious find leads him into a dangerous investigation involving the town’s hidden criminal world. Jeffrey becomes entangled with Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini), a nightclub singer trapped in an abusive relationship with the sadistic criminal Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper). As Jeffrey gets deeper into the dark secrets of his seemingly idyllic town, he faces a conflict between his curiosity and his growing feelings for Sandy (Laura Dern), a local girl who becomes involved in his investigation.

The film is known for its stark juxtaposition of innocence and corruption, with Lynch‘s signature surrealism and unsettling imagery. Blue Velvet explores themes of voyeurism, obsession, and the duality of human nature, becoming a landmark in neo-noir cinema. The film was both controversial and critically acclaimed for its bold storytelling and its shocking, disturbing visuals.

Lost Highway (1997)

A mind-bending psychological thriller that blends noir, horror, and surrealism. The film follows the strange, interconnected lives of two men: Fred Madison (Bill Pullman), a jazz saxophonist who is mysteriously accused of murder, and Pete Dayton (Balthazar Getty), a mechanic who becomes entangled in a bizarre series of events after his encounter with a woman named Alice (Patricia Arquette).

The narrative shifts between these two characters, with a surreal transformation in identity and a nonlinear timeline, as the film explores themes of memory, guilt, and identity. As Fred’s and Pete’s lives intertwine, the boundaries between reality and illusion blur, creating a disorienting and haunting experience for the viewer. Lost Highway is filled with Lynch‘s signature atmosphere of dread, confusion, and fragmented storytelling, leaving much open to interpretation.

Eraserhead (1977)

David Lynch‘s debut feature, is a nightmarish, surreal exploration of fear, isolation, and the anxieties of fatherhood. The film centers on Henry Spencer (Jack Nance), a man living in a bleak, industrial world. After his girlfriend, Mary X, gives birth to a strange and deformed child, Henry must navigate the overwhelming responsibilities of fatherhood, while grappling with his own sense of inadequacy and dread.

The film’s abstract narrative is marked by eerie, surreal imagery and a haunting sound design that amplifies its sense of unease. Eraserhead is often interpreted as a meditation on existential and psychological fear, with Lynch’s signature style of disturbing visuals, dark humor, and unsettling atmosphere making it a cult classic of experimental cinema.

The Short Films Of David Lynch

David Lynch’s short films, often experimental and surreal, are known for their disturbing imagery and abstract narratives that explore themes of fear, identity, and the subconscious. His early short films, such as The Alphabet (1968) and The Grandmother (1970), set the stage for his later work, featuring dark, dreamlike sequences and unconventional storytelling.

In The Alphabet, Lynch uses disturbing visuals to depict a child’s fear of learning, while The Grandmother centers on a young boy who grows a grandmother figure in his home to escape an abusive environment. The Amputee (1974) is a bizarre exploration of a woman with amputated limbs, combining absurdity with horror in a darkly comedic way. Rabbits(2002), one of his more well-known shorts, is a cryptic, avant-garde piece featuring humanoid rabbits engaging in strange, cryptic dialogue, which has been interpreted as a surreal take on family life and domesticity.

These short films are often less concerned with linear plots than with creating visceral, unsettling experiences for the audience, pushing the boundaries of narrative cinema and showcasing Lynch‘s trademark exploration of the surreal and psychological.

Dune (1984)

is a sci-fi epic based on Frank Herbert’s novel. Set in the distant future, the film follows Paul Atreides (Kyle MacLachlan), the young heir to House Atreides, who becomes embroiled in a power struggle over the desert planet Arrakis. Arrakis is the only known source of the valuable substance known as “spice,” which is crucial for space travel and control of the universe.

When House Atreides is betrayed and overthrown by their rivals, House Harkonnen, Paul and his family are forced to flee into the desert. As Paul discovers his destiny and the mystical powers within him, he begins to rise as a leader and potential messiah to the native Fremen people, who are in tune with the desert’s harsh environment and its giant sandworms. The film explores themes of politics, religion, ecology, and destiny.

Despite its ambitious scope, Dune received mixed reviews upon release but has since gained a cult following, noted for its striking visuals, Lynch’s surreal style, and the complex world-building of Herbert’s novel.