Can you watch Eraserhead without feeling TOTALLY creeped out?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

I've never ever been able to sit through the entire thing. I tried again earlier today only to turn the damned thing off just after the Lady In The Radiator did her song. (What the HELL is it with those cheeks???)



I can sit through almost anything, but this one makes me run screaming from the room (so to speak).

Does ANYONE here understand it, or even LIKE it???

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Prisoner_Number_Six!

I've actually never watched it!

And that pic is gross!

From your description, I'm thinking I'll just miss it!

:scared:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

2. You're better off for letting it slide on by.

It's totally wacked.

[Drum]

4. lol...yes that is what I was trying to say downthread:

It is totally wacked.

:)

[cemaphonic]

10. Oh, it gets grosser than that

(although it really isn't a grossout movie at all. Not visually, anyway)

[ghostsofgiants]

12. It's weird as hell and a little gross at some points, but it is a cinematic masterpiece.

Probably wouldn't be your cup of tea, though, haha.

[Drum]

3. Haven't seen it for about 15 years,

but I would certainly watch it again. I recall that it was singularly creepy and odd. Memorable images and uncomfortable stuff, but the specifics I don't recall beyond that baby---! I Netflix'ed a collection of early David Lynch films, and they so indicated that idiosyncratic Lynch thing.

[Alexander]

5. No. It's a creepy-ass movie.

But it's a good creepy-ass movie.

[XemaSab]

6. That was a totally different movie

on a totally different level.

I can't say I really enjoyed that one, frankly.

[Orsino]

7. I understood it, mostly and even kinda liked it...

...but it is certainly hard to watch. It makes sense as a portrait of male insecurity and fears of parenthood/responsibility.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. I saw it once, years ago, in a theatre

and I was deeply, totally creeped out. I think it was the "baby" that made me want to bolt from the theatre, screaming. David Lynch is one weird dude.

[kaiden]

9. Great "abstinence" movie, methinks.

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. Sure. It's a story of sexual discomfort, among other things.

Utterly brilliant. I love it and even have the soundtrack (sound effects) on CD and vinyl.

Sure you run screaming from the room, but it's a GOOD kind of running screaming from the room.

[darkstar]

24. hey..a fan...of the soundtrack

Me too...I remember being so impressed by the soundscaping and trying to convince friends that that was where the majority of the creep factor came from...that unrelenting presence and building that goes nowhere.

I even covered "In Heaven" in the early/mid 80s. Minor key "funk" a la Imminence Front, Rock the Casbah,Rear of Music, etc.

[ghostsofgiants]

13. I can't watch it without being creeped the fuck out, but that's why I love it.

</David Lynch fanboy>

[cemaphonic]

14. I think I understand it

It's sort of like the art-movie version of all of those 70s "fear of parenting" horror movies, like The Exorcist, all filtered through David Lynch's personal weirdness.

As for liking it, I think it is a great movie, but one I can easily go a decade or so between viewings. It certainly has one of the most effective use of a soundtrack I've ever heard in a movie.

On the subject of creepy, enigmatic movies, does anyone have any comment on Polanski's The Tenant?

[tigereye]

20. it still creeps me out to think about it (The Tenant)

and I've only seen it once. It's brilliant, but disturbing, and I suppose that covers Lynch as well.

[darkstar]

23. Hey...great...a favorite of mine

I recall being creeped out by The Tenant when I first saw it 15-20 yrs or so ago.. When I saw it again, about 2 yrs ago--and knowing what was coming--I liked it and laughed at it's slow boil audacity. Upon purchase an a couple of more viewings, I truly (Ms. Darkstar thinks I am just trying to provoke) find it funny in parts. Polanski is an uheralded genius of physical comedy, IMO. His body language and such is so subtle as this geeky, insecure guy. Kind of a woody Allen/Chaplin mix or something for me. And kind of a strange pairing to female sexual repression found in Repulsion.

Thanks for bring it up. I urge all film lovers to watch this (again).

[cemaphonic]

25. hmm, interesting

I am definitely better attuned to Polanski's weird sense of humor than I was when I first saw it. It might make more sense, and seem less icky from that viewpoint. I should watch it again. It was certainly compelling. I love the doppelganger trope in literature, and it seems to be ill served in movies, other than in cheesy horror flicks.

I think I associate it with Eraserhead because the Coen Brothers quote both all over the place in Barton Fink.

[Greyskye]

15. It's a movie I had to watch alone

As when I tried to watch it with other people, they wouldn't let themselves get into the 'mood' of the movie, and ended up spending all the time ripping on the choices that Lynch made. I most remember the beginning, which is totally silent for quite a while. I couldn't get into the movie as everyone was loudly complaining about the silence. :eyes:

That said, it was a bizarre, twisted experience. I don't think I would watch it very often, but once every 20 years or so sounds about right. I might be due soon...

[cemaphonic]

16. yeah, that would be aggravating

Along the same line, I've wondered about its popularity as a midnight movie. A party atmosphere set by Eraserhead is not a party I want to be at.

[Greyskye]

18. Eraserhead as a midnight movie?

Ewww. Just.... ewwww. :scared:

[tigereye]

21. aha

:rofl:


Folks I know prefer Ed Wood films for the late-night party movie. ;)


However, I seem to recall folks screening Residents vids as well....

[edbermac]

17. I saw Eraserhead on LSD one time.

Made perfect sense.

[Lautremont]

19. I love that movie.

I won't say that I understand it particularly, but I share Lynch's belief that art (and life) is richer with a few unsolveable mysteries in it.

[Forkboy]

22. After seeing Tetsuo:The Iron Man, Eraserhead became easy to watch.