Eraserhead (David Lynch, 1977)


What's it about? Henry (Jack Nance) finds out his girlfriend is pregnant and is plunged into a nightmare world of surreal hallucinations and weirdness. It's about the male fear of childbirth apparently.

Is it any good? Man, this is a freaky film. The visuals are disturbing, the sound is unsettling and the whole thing feels rather nightmarish. So it pretty much sums up the male experience of impending childbirth and fatherhood perfectly. Especially when the giant sperm and the singing Lady in the Radiator turns up.



I don't trust you. What do others think? It's a cult classic, the poster a regular addition to student walls everywhere. More importantly, it put Lynch on the map. Mel Brooks hired him to make The Elephant Man on the strength of this and Stanley Kubrick loved it, screening it on the set of The Shining to inspire his cast and crew. And George Lucas was so impressed, he wanted Lynch to direct Return of the Jedi, an offer Lynch turned down because he didn't feel he would have creative control over the project. Imagine what he would have done with the Ewoks.

Anything else I should know? Probably best avoided if you're pregnant or expecting a baby - the hideously mutated baby will be somewhat disturbing.

What does the Fonz think? Mad as a barrel of monkeys, but excellent. 





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