Goodnight, David Lynch

1/18/2025

This Eraserhead poster hangs on my bedroom wall. I also have this image on my favorite t-shirt. I’m a big fan of Lynch, although I wouldn't say Eraserhead is my favorite of his work. Rather, this movie poster is emblematic of something important that ended up shaping my identity. When I was a kid, back before Blockbuster existed, I visited a video store at a nearby college town where this striking black and white image with the weird title caught my attention. I remember it being in the “Art House” section, or it may have been labeled "Alternative". The point is, Eraserhead led me to watching other non-mainstream films, along with the great masters of foreign cinema.

Years later I realized Lynch directed The Elephant Man. This made perfect sense. When I was around seven, this movie aired on HBO. I loved it so much I'd watch it over and over again. I remember relishing the emotions it brought out in me despite the deep sadness and pain of separation. I can still hear Joseph Merrick’s resolute cry as he’s harassed by strangers on the street gawking at his grotesque appearance. “I am not an animal!… I am a human being!”

Most profound was the scene in which Merrick rearranges his pillows before bed in such a way to prevent him from waking. For once in his life he wants to lie down and sleep like any other man; he always had to sleep sitting up to keep fluid from pooling in his lungs. As the scene swells with Barber’s Adagio for Strings, I'd weep with empathy while oddly rooting for the “hero” in the darkest way. John Merrick's decision to end his existence was rooted in insurmountable pain.

My favorite property of his is Twin Peaks, in particular the film, Fire Walk With Me. The notion of Laura Palmer and her father touching upon an alternate realm fascinated me to no end. To this day people still attempt to decipher, What exactly is the White Lodge? I was more struck by Twin Peak's darkness lurking under a veneer of small town niceties-- a quality also apparent in Blue Velvet. This idea resonated with me due to my own hometown. I've always described it as Norman Rockwell with shades of David Lynch.

Lynch's Dune also fired up my imagination as a young person, especially the precious spice used for mind bending prescience. I ended up reading most of the Frank Herbert Dune series— a tale that gets weird beyond belief. People equate Lynch with weird— either good weird or contrived according to his detractors. I've always embraced his brand of weird because he never seemed to take himself too seriously. There's also the fact he presented a core of kindness with characters like Pete Martell and Sheriff Andy who cannot control his tears when Laura Palmer's corpse is discovered. David Lynch seemed like one of the nicest guys on the planet-- with a flat Midwestern-sounding accent mirroring my own no less.

Later in life the director penned the non-fiction book, Catching the Big Fish. It details his experience with transcendental meditation. He said for him the practice is a means of accessing deeper levels of the subconscious where big ideas lurk. This notion- that it’s possible to create inner peace with potential to tap into a well of creativity- is if anything inspirational. As someone who writes, this means every single day is an opportunity to be happy and look within to see if there are any "big fish" to catch.

As I've gotten older I've refined my spiritual ideas. These relate to the value of human creativity and the importance of being kind to yourself. This makes me think of the Twin Peaks episode in which Agent Dale Cooper says, "Treat yourself." It doesn't have to be anything big, it could be a piece of pie or a nice hot cup of coffee (AKA a cup of good morning America). Just treat yourself.

Thank you, David Lynch, for being weird, fun, and kind.