Review of Fire Birds (1990) by Manicure — 22 Nov 2020

David Lynch tries to rewrite "Twin Peaks" history and atone for the mess that Season 2 caused by making this prequel. The film is about things that we already know, but there are so many poignant moments and beautifully unsettling images that make this a must-see. It's pretty much what the series was supposed to be before losing its identity, and an important chapter retrospectively as many symbolic elements here provide essential hints to understand "The Return" 25 years later.

Laura Palmer's spleen and inner conflicts are masterfully depicted here, especially once she becomes aware of how things are starting to degenerate. This film is an excellent example of the unique way Lynch is able to create a disturbing atmosphere by twisting apparently familiar situations with unnatural lines, odd acting, and subtle details. Credit also goes to how frightening Ray Wise's Leland Palmer feels this time. He had a couple of great moments in the series too but he definitely shines here. On the other hand, Sheryl Lee's continuous wailing and screaming were a bit too annoying to take. Overacting is a common feature in Twin Peaks, but I think she went a bit too far with that.

I would not recommend this to people who are not familiar with the show or want to start their journey to Twin Peaks, as the role of Bob & Friends is not clearly explained, and most references and supporting characters would just feel superfluous.