Eraserhead
Composite Score: 81.33
Starring: Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Judith Roberts, and Laurel Near
Director: David Lynch
Writer: David Lynch
Genres: Fantasy, Horror
MPAA Rating: NR
Box Office: $23 thousand worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Eraserhead is the first full-length film by David Lynch and contains some of his iconic touchstones. Brilliant sound design of oppressive white noise permeates the film, adding to Lynch’s horrific atmosphere. The horror of Eraserhead is not the terror or jump scares of traditional horror films. It instead instills in its audience a sense of unease and discomfort that instills constant stress throughout, paid off by brief moments of actual visual horror, accentuated by momentary spikes of score to create a heart-racing effect. Throughout my whole watch I was incredibly uncomfortable, which seems to be Lynch’s exact intent, crafting a successful horror foray for his audience.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
The film’s absurdism may be difficult for some viewers to process, especially in the midst of what some might expect to be a more traditional horror film. The slow plod of the story progression, the symbolism present throughout, and the body horror aspects of the film create a challenging watch if that is not something that you are looking for. While all of these aspects are part of what makes the film into the cult classic that it is, cult classics are inherently not for every watcher. This is certainly not a traditional horror movie. It is a slow burn with many levels of symbolism and story to process during the watch-through.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Difficult though it may be, there are many aspects of the film that make it worth watching. The symbolism and exploration of the themes in the movie make it a rewarding watch. The story focuses on an everyman, Henry Spencer, who struggles with relationships and is an incredibly reluctant father. Throughout, Lynch goes back and forth between images of Spencer’s mundane and almost dystopic waking life and the absurd area of Spencer’s dreams where his fears of fatherhood and frustrations with his wife, his life, and his child are played out in visceral and insane ways. From the jump, the audience is introduced to the symbolism of the film through a symbolic act of conception that is very easy to miss. For people who love reading into the deeper meanings of films and images, Lynch has crafted something well-worth watching.
Perhaps the greatest aspect of Eraserhead is its atmospheric sound design. A consistent humming of industrial noises and other white noise permeates the film at a volume that is just enough to be uncomfortable without being distracting at most points. In certain moments of intense stress, the noise increases, driving the audience to insanity along with the protagonist. Even the cinematography of the film instills a sense of unease in the audience. Every shot lingers just longer than is comfortable for viewers, driving home the sense that there is something out of place in the world that is being witnessed. Cinematography combined with complex sound design helps bring the horror that the film is so touted for.
David Lynch’s Eraserhead contains an atmosphere of oppression and unease that makes it an impressive horror film that does more than just unnerve its viewers. Through symbolism and unique storytelling, the film explores themes of sexuality, relationships, and parenthood, especially the fears associated with each. For a dedicated viewer, the film is incredibly rewarding, explaining its cult classic reputation and preempting Lynch’s rise to cult success with works like Twin Peaks and Dune.
