Blue Velvet
“I'll send you a love letter,
straight from my heart, fucker! You know what a love letter is? It's a bullet from a fucking gun, fucker! You receive a love letter from me, you're fucked forever! You understand, fuck?”
Life in the Midwest.
If any word should be used to describe the film Blue Velvet, it should be bizarre. This is not by any means the strangest David Lynch film, not by a long shot, but the usage of this setting is what gives it such a foreboding feeling.
The cheesy 80s story beats and lines took me out to some degree, but they also highlight the more serious tones of the film. The aforementioned campiness didn’t ruin the experience; it’s just a minor gripe that dates the film a bit.
Regarding acting performances, Kyle MacLachlan plays it pretty straight, and Laura Dern does her thing as well, but my God, Dennis Hopper is really going for it. All of his scenes evoke pure discomfort.
The influence on Twin Peaks is very much noted and appreciated. The concept of “suburbia with something wrong” is a great idea, and I’m glad it was continued.
All things considered, this film is very well made, and I would call it a good introduction to David Lynch’s work. Its highlights clearly demonstrate Lynch’s strengths and what he would go on to perfect later on.
(4.4/5)