Review of Eraserhead (1977) by Steve H — 19 May 2010

My first foray into David Lynch's work is his debut feature length film Eraserhead. A dark, claustrophobic and creepy piece of cinema which will never be fully understood.

The film follows a short period of Henry Spencer's (Jack Nance) life, starting from when his estranged girlfriend, Mary (Charlotte Stewart), decides to invite him round for dinner with her family that evening. Once he arrives, we the audience find an uncomfortable and somewhat hostile atmosphere in which we find out that Mary was pregnant and has given birth prematurely. Forced to marry Mary, her and Henry move in with the baby, who is hideously deformed. As the responsibility of parenthood take their toll, Mary decides to leave and Henry is left to look after an ill baby when he starts hallucinating.

This film is undeniably dark and eerie. It's surrealism at it's best and from what I've come to known, this is what many of Lynch's films are like. Eraserhead is nightmarish and dream-like and for a second, I thought that it was all a dream which could of possibly brought the film into some sort of understandable state. However, Lynch seems keen on drawing you into a world that is completely out there, which he's designed to unsettle and disturb his viewer. I must admit, I was disturbed and watched it awe at the events playing out on screen.

I'm not entirely sure on how to comment on the story, there wasn't any sort of linear narrative other than that Henry was now a parent. Certain scenes just simply made no sense and while in some, you think you are suddenly grasping at the straws of a plot coming together, Lynch's screenplay simply throws you in another direction of mind-games and unsettling, confusing images.

The crisp black-and-white cinematography is beautiful especially with the films industrial backdrop. Lynch's directing style is original and unique and still feel refreshingly horrifying today. I feel that the film being in black-and-white definitely adds to its favour, embracing the pictures shadows and darker areas. This, used with the droney, industrial soundscape makes the atmosphere tight and enhances the dream, almost trance-like state of the film.

While I think Eraserhead is definitely an experience all cinema fans should experience, it's not a film for people are looking for definite answers or a strong plot. However, what Lynch has created is a good example of how dreams or nightmares can be perceived and this film simply is, imagination put onto film, albeit one seriously messed up imagination.