Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) dir. David Lynch
"And for a long time, you wouldn't feel anything. And then you'd burst into fire. Forever. And the angels wouldn't help you because they've all gone away."
This is what David Lynch intended the Twin Peaks series to be. This is the crescendo of everything he had built up in three seasons of television. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me may be a prologue to the show, but it is the true masterpiece in my opinion. It diverges rather quickly from the quirkiness of the television series. There is no idyllic small town charm here, just a looming darkness that corrupts everything in its path. There is an undeniable evil around every corner. This film delves into a much grimmer narrative though: the last seven days of Laura Palmer's life.
Sheryl Lee's portrayal of Laura Palmer has to be the most haunting performance I've ever seen. On the show, Laura was a mystery, an enigma pieced together through other people's memories of her. But here, Laura Palmer is not just the center of Fire Walk with Me; she is the film. Lynch doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of Laura’s existence. He forces us to confront the pain and terror she endured in the last days of her life. I think that throughout the film, the seemingly perfect Twin Peaks crumbles to reveal the rot underneath. That rot represents the cycle of abuse, the dual reality of Laura's sense of self; homecoming queen by day, tortured soul by night. Lee’s Laura is the emotional anchor of the film, and it’s through her eyes that we experience the true horror of the world Lynch has created.
In contrast to Laura’s tragic journey, we have Special Agent Dale Cooper, whose presence serves as a counterbalance. Cooper’s brief appearance in the film’s opening sequence remind us of his role as the moral compass of the series; he has an intuitive, almost supernatural understanding of the darkness lurking in Twin Peaks. Yet, in Fire Walk with Me, even Cooper is unable to save Laura. He is a figure who represents order and justice, but he can't do anything to change her fate.
I think that fate is the most important lesson taught in this film. The film explores the idea that Laura’s fate is tied to BOB’s possession of Leland Palmer. His eventual abuse of Laura represents a cyclical, inescapable horror that Laura is doomed to face. The notion that she is marked by this evil from a young age makes it clear that her fate is sealed. Even if you come into this not familiar with the series, Lynch includes many symbols related to fate; the many prophetic visions, the failure of Dale Cooper and the police, the overwhelming sense of dread she feels.
There is no happy ending. There is no change of heart or sudden realization. Everyone in this film has a secret they are taking to their grave. Finally, David Lynch is free from the shackles of television, free to create something truly visceral. Fire Walk with Me is the underbelly of suburbia and societal expectations. It isn’t about solving mysteries or uncovering secrets, but it is about confronting the darkness within a person. It’s truly brutal and uncompromising. It isn't for the faint of heart, but I believe it is one of the most stunning films I've ever seen in a long time.
To conclude this review, I will end it on what I believe is the most painful line in cinematic history, which just so happens to be the entire overarching theme of the film: "I always thought you knew it was me."
Spoiler
written for letterboxd. 5 stars. i probably need to rewatch this film to understand everything because david lynch is a confusing guy.
In a shadow there is the blessing of a shadow. — Kuki Shūzō
