Lost Highway

“I like to remember things my own way.” "what do you mean by that?" “how I remembered them. not necessarily the way they happened." i’m on a massive david lynch binge watch right now (i can’t believe i’ve already seen such a good percentage of his filmography, and i’m honestly not ready to run out of his material, because everything else lacks in comparison). prior to this, i’d already seen eraserhead, wild at heart and blue velvet, and i really couldn’t believe it would be able to get any better than wild at heart (which objectively isn’t as good as blue velvet, but i personally enjoy it more), but i obviously proved myself wrong as lost highway is everything i’d need in a david lynch film, plus more, and if i could give it higher than five stars i totally would. i initially had caution, as i really didn’t want to get my hopes up incase it wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but it just exceeds them. i watched this a couple weeks ago  (as my schedule for logging films is completely all over the place, so my memory might be a little blurry, but it’s fine because i think i’ve processed it enough to give my opinion). this one was definitely weirder, even for david lynch standards (i’m writing this after watching inland empire, and i’ve got to say lost highway is a truly vital point in his career, going from the surreal, more mainstream friendly masterpieces such as blue velvet, to then afterwards going into nightmarish sequences of horrifying fever dreams of a woman’s life being submerged into her role. this movie is confusing, but after watching inland empire, it becomes a little more simple in comparison (which isn’t used as an insult). it still has some features of wild at heart or blue velvet, but he clearly dialed up the surrealism a lot more, and also it’s a lot more ambiguous, everything is up to interpretation. i had to look up a plot summary of this entire movie (because really, who hasn’t) and i see the vision, and probably on another watch it’d become a little more clearer with its themes. from my understanding, the main plot (if you can really call it that) is a middle aged man is charged with the murder of his wife, if sentenced to death row, and while in prison his subconscious transcends him into a younger body that runs with gangman ‘mr. eddy’, it explores the protagonists mental state, and how his mind tries to escape his horrific reality or fate, to try and gain a new persona. but enough of the plot, as this movie clearly values style over substance (which is great with me). this movie successfully has a highly surrealist quality about it, with a sensual mood, hypnotic style and lack of any linear plot. i’ve seen hundreds of horror movies, and this has to be one of the most terrifying viewing experiences i’ve ever had lmao. that’s mainly because of how well david lynches uses sound and visuals to immerse people into an entire new universe. the audio is static, unsettling. and this also has one of the best soundtracks i’ve possibly ever heard (?) the music by david bowie, nine inch nails, plus others, is entrancing and addictive to listen to. the industrial style totally fits the films unhinged nature, and i would unironically watch this again just for the music alone. the entire movie has such a shadowy look to it, and the visuals are stunning. another one of lost highways biggest positives, is how it completely lacks a coherent narrative,   there’s really no beginning, middle or end. it feels to just loop itself, and certain scenes felt like illusions. at first i was confused at the point of ‘the mystery man’, but as it progresses, i enjoyed his presence more and more. him constantly repeating the same words, to his highly unusual appearance. the character embodies ‘mystery’, and is almost is the darkness throughout the entire project. also, patricia arquette playing both alice and renee was a really interesting part, and heightens the surrealism and confusion even more. alice is clearly a figment of his imagination, as his guilt of killing renee consumes him. both characters also embody ‘femme fatale’, and alice in particular was just amazing. it feels like i’m just waffling at this point, but this was a perfect movie, which i’d probably consider being in my top 5 ever, at this moment. i can’t wait to watch the rest of his movies, but ill probably savour them for later on in 2026.