Review of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) by Paul H — 21 Jul 2015

This film is another underappreciated masterpiece from maverick visionary David Lynch, even if it was effectively the final nail in the coffin of the franchise.

The movie is a prequel to the events of the series but is independent of it in some ways, it's tonally different, it's intense and doesn't relent in the means by which it explores its themes, it's Twin Peaks but not as we know it, and I suppose this is why it failed to impress its former fanbase.

This is a David Lynch film through and through, it makes no attempt whatsoever to cater itself for the traditional television drama viewer but rather the more open minded cinema goer, it's brimming with "Lyncian" trademarks and themes; a convoluted, occasionally interpretive and regularly bizarre story, peculiarly random and bizarre characters and the whole notion of "a woman in trouble.".

It's gripping, disturbing drama that's not for everyone featuring great performances, notably from Sheryl Lee, and the surreal cameo by David Bowie goes down a treat.

If I have any criticism of this, and it's not entirely valid, it's that the story of the movie failed to offer any definitive resolution to the prematurely cancelled series, which left a lot of loose ends.

At the end of the day however, this is as good a David Lynch film as any of the others that I've seen.