As someone on IMDb writes: "Don't see this as a movie, see this as a piece of art". Don't exect a coherent storyline or flashing action scened. Expect to be awed.
What I get out of Eraserhead: To me this movie is about the expectations we put on our own lives and how that leads us to believe our lives aren't satisfying. The biggest things that lead me to think this way about the film would be that Henry's child is not what anybody would expect and he is unprepared for that and seeing as how the film opens with what appears to be the creation of (a) life (Lynch style), I believe that Henry's child is meant to represent his life as a whole. On that note I think when Henry cuts the clothe his child is in and discovers that the clothe was actually the only thing keeping it together...What this means is Henry decided to examine his life but when doing so he discovered that ignoring all of the ugliness in his life, it was in a sense protecting him, and now that he undid all of that he stabs his child to put it out of its misery, this represents Henry's urge to end his own life because he sees that he can't put it all back together again and as the last shot is him greeting the lady in the radiator who sings to Henry earlier in the film "In Heaven everything is fine" I believe Henry chooses to kill himself. Another way to look a this would be that the lady in the radiator is just a symbol of hope and that after Henry examines the dark parts of his own life he finds hope for the future. Regardless I think this is all about expectations because the film is riddled with unexpected pieces that are meant to instill all sorts of emotions. In the beginning we expect the elevator to close but it doesn't for a long time, it just holds there (Which is Lynch humor), the chicken bleeds which is not expected and it disturbs us and in an entirely different kind of example the lady across the hall definitely represents some sort of ideal that Henry strives for and when he gets her it again does not turn out as expected. I think there's other ideas explored in other stranger passages but I think the main idea, or at least what I got out of it was that expectations cause our lives to be worse than they are.
Oh David Lynch, what have you done? Your first feature film Eraserhead is a highly visual film that features indelible images sure to give me nightmares. Of course, the film IS a nightmare in which the protagonist has other nightmares. There's no waking up from this. What Lynch does here is use expressionism (the film in fact looks like it could have come from the German masters of the silent era) to translate the modern family man's anxieties. So Harry is more or less forced into marriage, which is manifested by cramped, prison-like quarters he shares with a noisy wife obviously suffering from post-partum depression, and a mutant, inhuman baby that could hardly be his, could it? But what if it is? Does having a child essentially replace you in the world? Does it void your self? Harry's dreams are no real sanctuary from these questions as squirming, giant sperm fly around while a woman with a testicular visage sings a song the Pixies would later cover, trying to reassure him and... failing? Well, that's left ambiguous. And you're left ill at ease, to say the least. Joe goes up against the Volcano and loses.
So I’ve been trying to get into David Lynch because of Twin Peaks return (loved TP but undecided on the movies as of now). I liked this one… I think. I don’t know. It was really interesting to look at and the eeriness the sound design creates kind of sneaks up on you. The atmosphere of the whole movie is really impressive actually. It has such a unique and powerful feel. I just wish I cared about the characters/conflict. I’m sure there are many theories on what the movie's about. What I got out of it: because of the modern world we live in today, natural/organic have become gross and disgusting to us. No idea if that’s what Lynch was actually trying to say, but the plants growing around the main character's home grossed me out. And when all these puppies are feeding on their mother it's really gross. And that freakin’ baby - AH! It's all nature/natural stuff though, but it was so gross to see. So yeah, maybe that was the point? I don't really know though.
A very gross, interesting movie. I might like it more than I think I like it haha I don’t know. I guess that's Lynch's style.
Could have easily been a Luis Bunuel film! Great lighting and camera work. It is one of the scariest horror movies although it is rather slow. Not my favorite Lynch movie though.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 39
ChrisReynolds
Possibly the best pure surrealist film without any supporting narrative. Watching it captures the feeling of being trapped in a nightmare.cinephile085
WTFMathianSim
The feelings of despair, discomfort, unease & confusion that are imparted on the viewer are unparalleled by any film. As for the story...bathkuyp
Litso
As someone on IMDb writes: "Don't see this as a movie, see this as a piece of art". Don't exect a coherent storyline or flashing action scened. Expect to be awed.dajmasta94
What I get out of Eraserhead: To me this movie is about the expectations we put on our own lives and how that leads us to believe our lives aren't satisfying. The biggest things that lead me to think this way about the film would be that Henry's child is not what anybody would expect and he is unprepared for that and seeing as how the film opens with what appears to be the creation of (a) life (Lynch style), I believe that Henry's child is meant to represent his life as a whole. On that note I think when Henry cuts the clothe his child is in and discovers that the clothe was actually the only thing keeping it together...What this means is Henry decided to examine his life but when doing so he discovered that ignoring all of the ugliness in his life, it was in a sense protecting him, and now that he undid all of that he stabs his child to put it out of its misery, this represents Henry's urge to end his own life because he sees that he can't put it all back together again and as the last shot is him greeting the lady in the radiator who sings to Henry earlier in the film "In Heaven everything is fine" I believe Henry chooses to kill himself. Another way to look a this would be that the lady in the radiator is just a symbol of hope and that after Henry examines the dark parts of his own life he finds hope for the future. Regardless I think this is all about expectations because the film is riddled with unexpected pieces that are meant to instill all sorts of emotions. In the beginning we expect the elevator to close but it doesn't for a long time, it just holds there (Which is Lynch humor), the chicken bleeds which is not expected and it disturbs us and in an entirely different kind of example the lady across the hall definitely represents some sort of ideal that Henry strives for and when he gets her it again does not turn out as expected. I think there's other ideas explored in other stranger passages but I think the main idea, or at least what I got out of it was that expectations cause our lives to be worse than they are.hugeposuer
I have the weirdest boner right now.iCheckFilms
"Well, Henry, what do ya know?"..Henry: "I don't know much of anything"..
That, pretty much, sums up the movie for me!
jhhayes
This is one of those films that is so strange that you feel compelled to keep watching.Rohit
This is not a movie. This is an awesome piece of art.Dorothy Valens
Strange yet beautiful.Siskoid
Oh David Lynch, what have you done? Your first feature film Eraserhead is a highly visual film that features indelible images sure to give me nightmares. Of course, the film IS a nightmare in which the protagonist has other nightmares. There's no waking up from this. What Lynch does here is use expressionism (the film in fact looks like it could have come from the German masters of the silent era) to translate the modern family man's anxieties. So Harry is more or less forced into marriage, which is manifested by cramped, prison-like quarters he shares with a noisy wife obviously suffering from post-partum depression, and a mutant, inhuman baby that could hardly be his, could it? But what if it is? Does having a child essentially replace you in the world? Does it void your self? Harry's dreams are no real sanctuary from these questions as squirming, giant sperm fly around while a woman with a testicular visage sings a song the Pixies would later cover, trying to reassure him and... failing? Well, that's left ambiguous. And you're left ill at ease, to say the least. Joe goes up against the Volcano and loses.heat_
an epic tribute to vasectomy!kimstir
So I’ve been trying to get into David Lynch because of Twin Peaks return (loved TP but undecided on the movies as of now). I liked this one… I think. I don’t know. It was really interesting to look at and the eeriness the sound design creates kind of sneaks up on you. The atmosphere of the whole movie is really impressive actually. It has such a unique and powerful feel. I just wish I cared about the characters/conflict. I’m sure there are many theories on what the movie's about. What I got out of it: because of the modern world we live in today, natural/organic have become gross and disgusting to us. No idea if that’s what Lynch was actually trying to say, but the plants growing around the main character's home grossed me out. And when all these puppies are feeding on their mother it's really gross. And that freakin’ baby - AH! It's all nature/natural stuff though, but it was so gross to see. So yeah, maybe that was the point? I don't really know though.A very gross, interesting movie. I might like it more than I think I like it haha I don’t know. I guess that's Lynch's style.
Miss Jitterbug
Could have easily been a Luis Bunuel film! Great lighting and camera work. It is one of the scariest horror movies although it is rather slow. Not my favorite Lynch movie though.Showing items 1 – 15 of 39