A tormented jazz musician finds himself lost in an enigmatic story involving murder, surveillance, gangsters, doppelgängers, and an impossible transformation inside a prison cell.
Directed by David Lynch
prison
pornography
jealousy
dreams
dual identity
nightmare
police
sexual frustration
gangster
insanity
paranoia
prison cell
eroticism
bedroom
violent husband
headache
motel
transformation
death row
jazz singer or musician
highway
car mechanic
hallucination
suspicion
identity crisis
surrealism
car crash
murder
psychological thriller
los angeles, california
doppelgänger
videotape
fugue state
ambiguous
Rank
#10 in 1997·#359 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
4.1 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Patricia Arquette
Renee Madison / Alice Wakefield
Bill Pullman
Fred Madison
Balthazar Getty
Pete Dayton
Robert Blake
Mystery Man
Robert Loggia
Mr. Eddy / Dick Laurent
Michael Massee
Andy
Natasha Gregson Wagner
Sheila
Richard Pryor
Arnie
Gary Busey
Bill Dayton
Lucy Butler
Candace Dayton
Jack Nance
Phil
Jack Kehler
Guard Johnny Mack
Crew
David Lynch
Director
David Lynch
Writer
Barry Gifford
Writer
Angelo Badalamenti
Original Music Composer
Mary Sweeney
Editor
Peter Deming
Director of Photography
Mary Sweeney
Producer
Deepak Nayar
Producer
David Lynch
Sound Designer
Deepak Nayar
Unit Production Manager
Sabrina S. Sutherland
Production Supervisor
David Lynch
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Popular Reviews
3308 reviews
Sarish DeotalePRO
9.6★ · 03/17/25
i will never be able to unsee mrs cobel from severance as an absolute baddie
saw this at the roxie
The way Lynch depicts motive in the noir/thriller/horror genre is so creative. I think the key to enjoying Lynch films is to pay close attention to every clue that’s given, but also give up understanding and just enjoy the ride. So many scary, thrilling, hilarious, and horny scenes. Even when you’re confused at what’s happening, you feel the effects of each scene. The shots here as so powerful. Every decision feels so intentional by Lynch. I still have quite a few open questions, but it doesn’t feel like a film that just left you confused by being too smart or unnecessarily confusing. I think that’s the beauty of many of Lynch’s films, they require the viewer to interpret for themselves.
also some serious vertigo influences too. was actually grateful for @kt making me watch it
i will never be able to unsee mrs cobel from severance as an absolute baddie
saw this at the roxie
The way Lynch depicts motive in the noir/thriller/horror genre is so creative. I think the key to enjoying Lynch films is to pay close attention to every clue that’s given, but also give up understanding and just enjoy the ride. So many scary, thrilling, hilarious, and horny scenes. Even when you’re confused at what’s happening, you feel the effects of each scene. The shots here as so powerful. Every decision feels so intentional by Lynch. I still have quite a few open questions, but it doesn’t feel like a film that just left you confused by being too smart or unnecessarily confusing. I think that’s the beauty of many of Lynch’s films, they require the viewer to interpret for themselves.
also some serious vertigo influences too. was actually grateful for @kt making me watch it
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lonzo
8.8★ · 03/13/26
i love humbling and shaken displays of rarely talked about topics, in this case being toxic masculinity
i love humbling and shaken displays of rarely talked about topics, in this case being toxic masculinity
3
