In the pilot episode of Twin Peaks, David Lynch masterfully captures the mundane rhythm of everyday life in a high school setting. We see a student sneaking a cigarette, another being summoned to the principal's office, and a teacher taking attendance. The scene shifts suddenly when a police officer enters the classroom, whispering to the teacher. A scream pierces the air, and through the window, a student is seen running across the courtyard. The teacher struggles to hold back tears as an announcement looms. The camera then focuses on an empty seat in the classroom, where two students exchange a knowing glance, realizing that their friend Laura Palmer is dead.
Lynch's talent for capturing surface-level details was unparalleled, yet he always delved deeper, revealing something unsettling beneath. This scene from Twin Peaks encapsulates the thematic essence of Lynch's career—simplicity and subtlety revealing a world where things are just not right. Yet, it's not the only defining moment in Lynch's vast body of work spanning over four decades. Each fan, whether sipping coffee or watching the weather report, might have a different scene they consider the quintessential Lynch moment.
The term 'Lynchian' embodies an unnerving, dream-like quality that has cemented David Lynch's legendary status. His passing is a profound loss for fans, who cherished his unique voice and the diverse ways his work resonated with them. Few artists earn the honor of a new adjective, but "Lynchian" joins the ranks of "Kafkaesque," describing a broader, unsettling atmosphere rather than specific elements.
For many budding film enthusiasts, watching Eraserhead was a rite of passage. Decades later, the ritual continued with the author's teenage son and his girlfriend, who independently began binge-watching Twin Peaks, reaching the Windom Earle era of Season 2.
Lynch's work has an odd timelessness. In Twin Peaks: The Return (2017), he designed a child's bedroom reminiscent of 1956, a year significant as it was when Lynch turned 10. This child lives in a surreal world with a father who is a clone from another dimension and an evil counterpart capable of violent acts. Despite the nostalgia boom in Hollywood, Lynch's return was anything but conventional, leaving audiences bewildered by his refusal to revive key characters from the original series.
When Lynch adhered to Hollywood's conventional rules, the result was Dune, a notorious misfire yet distinctly his own. His struggles during the film's production are detailed in Max Evry's book, A Masterpiece in Disarray. Despite the epic tale of Paul Atreides and the Fremen, Lynch infused it with his signature bizarre imagery, like the infamous cat/rat milking machine.
Even in his more mainstream work, The Elephant Man, Lynch's touch is unmistakable. Set in a disquieting historical context, the film is both touching and unsettling, capturing the essence of what it means to be "Lynchian."
Defining Lynch's work within traditional genres is challenging, yet his films are instantly recognizable. His fascination with a world beneath our own, often revealed through literal or metaphorical curtains, is evident in Blue Velvet. The film starts as a typical noir but descends into a surreal underworld beneath the facade of mid-century Americana. A documentary on Lynch's connection to The Wizard of Oz further explores these influences, which are unique to his work.
Lynch's influence spans generations of filmmakers. From Jane Schoenbrun's I Saw The TV Glow, which evokes the surrealism of Twin Peaks, to Yorgos Lanthimos's The Lobster, which scrutinizes everyday norms, Lynch's impact is widespread. Other films like Robert Eggers' The Lighthouse, Ari Aster's Midsommar, David Robert Mitchell's It Follows and Under the Silver Lake, Emerald Fennell's Saltburn, Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko, and Rose Glass's Love Lies Bleeding all bear traces of Lynchian surrealism. Even Quentin Tarantino and Denis Villeneuve have paid homage to Lynch's style in their work.
David Lynch may not be everyone's favorite filmmaker, but his influence marks the end of an era. His films evoke a bygone time while exploring the hidden layers beneath our reality. As we continue to seek out those "Lynchian" elements lurking just beneath the surface, Lynch's legacy will endure through the filmmakers he has inspired.
