Lo-Fi Physicality of Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) - Spontification

As part of our ongoing series to spotlight excellent David Lynch-related video essays online, here is one from the YouTube channel Alternating Line. In this video essay, included below, we explore the deliberately simple special effects David Lynch employs in Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) and contrast it with the more sophisticated special effects he occasionally drops in. What is he communicating with this dichotomy?

Mulholland Dr. - A Psychoanalytic Analysis

If there were ever a film in existence begging for some of the good, old psychoanalysis, it would be David Lynch's surreal dream shaped into cinematic form: Mulholland Dr. (2001). Like that crazy dream you once had that you desperately want an interpretation for, Mulholland Dr. taunts us with its occasional non sequitirs, yet deeply evocative and rich symbolism.

Mulholland Dr. - Subconscious & Identity

There are still moments I wonder how amazing a Mulholland Dr. TV series would have been if the Pilot had been successfully picked up and gone to air back in 1999, as originally planned. I imagine the labyrinthine plot unfolding week by week as an amazing cast and guest cast paraded on our TV's  as we follow Adam Kesher's journey trying to make his 60's era film. Or trying to keep track of the many mob and police characters searching for Rita.

What Does "Lynchian" Mean?

Our quest continues as we explore YouTubers Eric Guzman and Justin Bibler collaborate on their video essay: "What does 'Lynchian' mean?" Although I do have some differing opinions on this subject, I still admire their work on this video and its editing. And much of what they say is believed by other Lynch fans.

Blue Velvet - Masterpiece Films

A fun homage to PBS's Masterpiece Theater, YouTuber Consequence of Sounds takes that old show's format to showcase classic films instead of books. Here she dissects some of the elements of David Lynch's 80's masterpiece to showcase why it still enthralls audiences as much (if not more) today than it ever did before.

Mulholland Dr. Analysis - Malmrose Projects

We proceed to the next David Lynch video essay by Malmrose Projects, the critically lauded Mulholland Dr. (2001). Sight & Sound Magazine declared it the best film of the 21st century, so far. Although the analysis here is brief, it is still engaging and well-explained. It is a pure cinematic dream and one of the most intriguing films to watch and discuss.

Eraserhead Analysis - Malmrose Projects

I have admired YouTuber Malmrose Projects for a few years now and I want to take this opportunity to point you to her channel on film and TV analysis. We begin with her study of David Lynch's feature directorial debut and student film extraordinaire: Eraserhead (1977). Lynch describes this "troubling dream of terrible things" as his "most spiritual film."

David Lynch - The Elusive Subconscious

Here is an excellent overview and analysis of director David Lynch's work done by Lewis Criswell on his YouTube channel. I like his use of clips here to punctuate his video essay's points. Whatever personal conclusions you come to, the clips themselves are useful at setting up the mood and overall atmosphere of David Lynch's work.

re:View - Fire Walk with Me (1992)

In anticipation of David Lynch and Mark Frost returning back to television with their classic cult series Twin Peaks (1990-91) on Showtime's Twin Peaks: The Return (2017), Red Letter Media brings the prequel film Fire Walk with Me (1992) under the magnifying glass on their cult classic discussion and review series titled, "re:View."

re:View - Eraserhead (1977)

The online movie show re:View takes a nostalgic look back at older cult movie titles and examines them from multiple angles. This show is done by the same guys at Red Letter Media, who most famously did the hilarious Mr. Plinkett's Reviews of the Star Wars Prequels. If you ever felt like venting about Star Wars Episodes I through III, then that is the video essay series for you.

Lost Highway: How Video Manipulates Us

Another informative video essay by What's So Great About That? on YouTube. She discusses David Lynch's examination of objective reality through video recordings and how they might not be quite as black and white as they appear to be. She explores some great ideas about Lynch's dichotomy of memory and video evidence and whether either can be ultimately more truthful than the other when confronting a complex reality.

David Lynch: The Treachery of Language

Below is an informative video essay recently created by What's So Great About That? on YouTube. She discusses David Lynch's complex relationship with the written language and how it relates (or does not relate) to his oneiric visual dreamscapes on film. She raises some good points and introduces some interesting parallels from other writers and artists, particularly on the topic of translating ideas to different mediums.