Eraserhead

Eraserhead is a dark, nightmarish and at times hilarious satire on life including family relationships which is breathtaking in terms of its cinematography, its unique soundtrack, the quirky performances. It works primarily through Freudianesque images and the bizarre interplay between the characters and is at times also very poignant and thought provoking. Henry the protaganist is abandoned by his girfriend leaving him with his grotesque child. The background of the film is a surreal industrial setting. The film is full of bizarre images including the appearance of mysterious worms and the famous "regular chickens". It is open to countless interpretations and is at times very uncomfortable viewing but worth watching if you like being challenged by art. In fact, it is as pure an art house film as you can imagine.

The images that David Lynch has managed to create in Eraserhead , defy description and will stay with you in your nightmares. The story such as it is, tells of a young mans liaison with a young woman and their subsequent child. However, the entire film appears to me to be an excuse to create a series of incredibly disturbing scenes. And it works! I have never seen a film that has stayed with me so much through the years. An example would be the lady with huge hamster cheeks, singing on stage whilst dancing on what look like deformed foetuses that drop from the ceiling to be crushed underfoot. Weird and hideously funny at the same time. The entire film is in the style of the later Elephant Man , the same cinematography and sound effects that are almost part of the cast. If you are a fan of Lynch and have not seen this, then you must. If you enjoy the bizarre and the well crafted then you will enjoy this. If you want a coherent and easy to follow night in, then you will hate it! I loved it, but then I am weird....