this is so fascinating…i could not tell you who directed most things except maybe for a handful of really well known movies/shows, eg lotr, star wars, dr who. i’ve seen blue velvet (which is quite good) but never knew of david lynch til yesterday & that he directed BV and twin peaks until today 🤷🏻♀️
If I hypothetically hadn’t, but was told by current me that “it’s…it’s not worth it” but then insisted “no no, I want to try it!” I would recommend Lost Highway to myself, and say if you can enjoy that have fun.
And then I would rewatch lost highway and be LIVID that I thought I knew better.
I will counsel that - brilliant and certainly original as he no doubt was - many of use are frankly just fondly remembering the exciting shock of the new and weird from when we were young (& a lot of Twin Peaks hype - it was a phenomenon, in reach, akin to GoT in its day)…
What would be lovely, would be to check out the @blankcheck.bsky.social podcast and their mini-series on Lynch after ya watch some bits. I found it great. Or, start at the start and they go through his full filmography and ya might get a sense of the things that might first appeal to ya most 😊
I agree with this. Blue velvet gives you a real sense for how dark and disturbing it can get and how fast. TP is like a long slow slide into that same darkness.
The Straight Story is a beautiful film, just a beautiful, odd, very accessible little film - always my first Lynch recommendation.
Twin Peaks is my favourite but the caveats ("ignore episodes 7-20 of season 2, Lynch stopped writing and directing it so blah blah, but season 3! Yes!") are there.
Honestly, the best route I could recommend would be the Blank Check podcast's most recent series, where they just spent August onwards watching every Lynch movie (and Twin Peaks) week by week until Christmas. It filled in a lot of gaps for me, while also being v funny and informative
Yep, it's really great. It's my favourite podcast anyway so I do it whoever they cover, I was delighted they did Lynch cos I had many blind spots with him and it's been amazing to watch everything in a row. And even more gutting he's gone having steeped myself in his work for four straight months!
Blue Velvet, Elephant Man, Wild at Heart have the Lynch touch without being completely bewildering. A Straight Story is very light touch on Lynchian style but a wonderful film. Eraserhead is a jump at the deep end as is Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive
Actually I would start with elephant man, if that doesn’t move you then maybe he’s not for you. If you like then go for wild at heart and if that’s good and you don’t find it crazy then blue velvet. If you like blue velvet then you are in 👍.
I wouldn't say the story is "strong as he gets" it's just a more traditional approach to storytelling that he pretty much abandons entirely later on. Not that Twin Peaks isn't brilliant, it just follows a more typical linear narrative structure than a lot of his later work.
It's the most movie movie of lynchs work imo. Loaded with all the semiotics, themes and mystery to chat and muse over thats half the fun of watching Lynch. It's the start of him working with Naomi Watts, opening the door to the fantastic Rabbit shorts she's in. And it's a huge part of queer cinema!
I watched Twin Peaks as a kid, and tbh it was just too scary (my room was in the basement) though I loved it too.
The Straight Story is one of the most tender films I've ever seen. Not classically Lynchian, but it's achingly lovely.
As others have said, Twin Peaks is really easy to get into. Bonus that it was filmed in the Pacific Northwest and features gorgeous but eerie landscapes that fit the mood perfectly.
THE ELEPHANT MAN and THE STRAIGHT STORY are decent places to start, and TWIN PEAKS is obviously a must, at least in terms of increasing weirdness. BLUE VELVET too, then the world’s your shellfish.
First season of Twin Peaks. Lynch was co-creator, directed the pilot and was heavily involved creatively. The second season has several episodes by him - included what was the (then) unintended series finale - and overall it's a great introduction to his filmmaking and style.
Do note, it's important to watch the prequel film 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me' after season 2, there are story elements that set up the 2017 third season.
Otherwise I'd recommend: Eraserhead, Elephant Man, Blue Velvet (in many ways, Lynch's precursor to Twin Peaks), and Mulholland Drive.
Wild At Heart is probably the best starting point if you don't know much about him. Has Nic Cage doing an Elvis impersonation and Willem Dafoe being a weird little dude, like all the best movies.
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And then I would rewatch lost highway and be LIVID that I thought I knew better.
Start at the beginning.
Wild at Heart lives up to its name
Twin Peaks is a commitment
I think most of his films would be scarier than Twin Peaks
I will counsel that - brilliant and certainly original as he no doubt was - many of use are frankly just fondly remembering the exciting shock of the new and weird from when we were young (& a lot of Twin Peaks hype - it was a phenomenon, in reach, akin to GoT in its day)…
I hope that you enjoy his work because it's not everyone's cup of tea.
After that I'd watch the first few eps of Twin Peaks and see how it lands
This and Lion in Winter are among the best Anthony Hopkins movies.
Then Eraserhead, just for the WTAF contrast.
Elephant Man is a great entry point too.
Dive in the deep end
Twin Peaks is my favourite but the caveats ("ignore episodes 7-20 of season 2, Lynch stopped writing and directing it so blah blah, but season 3! Yes!") are there.
It's as strong as he gets story wise. It looks fantastic, has a wonderful cast playing great parts.
Definitely worth watching.
Then I'd dip into Mulholland Drive i reckon
Though the Blank Check podcast recommend is the way to go.
The Straight Story is one of the most tender films I've ever seen. Not classically Lynchian, but it's achingly lovely.
WE EXIST
Anthony Hopkins… John Hurt… I mean really!
Otherwise I'd recommend: Eraserhead, Elephant Man, Blue Velvet (in many ways, Lynch's precursor to Twin Peaks), and Mulholland Drive.