Eraserhead

Entrapment and bleakness Lynch’s first film already embraces his surrealist and bizarre side and deals with his own personal extenuating circumstances. Fear of fatherhood and responsibility. The film feels like a guilty confession from Lynch at some point in his life as the main character is most definitely a self-insert. Henry is awkward, cowardly and absolutely frightened of the thought of having to bear the responsibility of a child. The child in Eraserhead is a weird, fleshy mutant stuck in a perpetual state of crying and yelling, reflecting how Henry, in his fear of being a father, views his own child as a monster causing nothing but irritation and anguish. The film was released a couple years after the birth of Lynch’s daughter, Jennifer Lynch and divorce from his wife in 1974. This is reflected through Henry’s wife leaving mid-film because of the child’s constant yelling and moaning. In addition the character of Henry’s wife feels very stereotypical. An annoying and nagging wife expressing nothing but complaints. This characterisation feels more intentional from Lynch as in my interpretation, that is Lynch’s own perception of how it first was being a father. He was so nervous and worried that even his wife became ‘irritable’ and ‘careless’ to him. This, combined with how small Henry’s character feels in the film creates a bleak and monotonous atmosphere, creating a world devoid of love or understanding. The claustrophobic, industrial landscape is giant and imposing on Henry. Henry walking back from work and the contrast of him and the various doors and factories behind him makes him feel like a very small man in a big world. There’s no place for romance and love in this setting. Henry is trapped in many situations.  This is at least what I got from the overall themes (don’t shoot me if I got something wrong).  I can’t even begin to comment on the ending as I didn’t fully grasp its significance yet. There is a lot to unpack in this film with its heavy industrial themes and visceral body horror. I definitely do see why many people consider this on Lynch’s weaker side however I adore this film. It might just be because how big I am on weird body horror, and industrial landscapes. Overall I loved the look of this film with the black and white filter and great use of claustrophobic imagery in Henry’s home. Also the sound design is awesome and the ambient soundtrack is ever present always accompanying Henry throughout the entirety of the film. Anaemic and bleak.  note: Jack Nance is brilliant and nice to see him in Lynch’s first film.