Eraserhead Details

1976

Rated:
60
from 4980 members

Starring	John Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Laurel Near, Jeanne Bates
Director	David Lynch
Genres	Horror

Eraserhead

Director David Lynch's feature-film debut is a masterpiece of the macabre and grotesque. Reportedly a reaction to the news that he was about to become a father, Lynch's ERASERHEAD follows a sensitive young man as he struggles to cope with impending parenthood. Henry Spencer (Jack Nance) lives in a hopeless industrial landscape, lusting after the beautiful woman who lives in the apartment across the hall. After his girlfriend, Mary (Charlotte Stewart), informs him of her pregnancy, he is forced to eat dinner with her extremely odd family. The baby is eventually born, only it isn't a human baby at all; it's a deformed creature that resembles a lizard. The baby won't stop crying, a horrifyingly piercing wail that drives Mary insane. Left alone with the baby, Henry is serenaded by a woman who lives inside his radiator, and soon he decides to murder his baby in order to stop the nightmare once and for all. Five years in the making, ERASERHEAD contains all of the trademark attributes of a Lynch film--haunting visuals, an ethereal score, unsettling sound design, and, most notably, a black sense of humor--creating a world onscreen that is exhilarating, terrifying, and unique.

Starring	John Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Laurel Near, Jeanne Bates, Allen Joseph
Director	David Lynch
Studio	SCANBOX ENTERTAINMENT
Run time	DVD: 1 hr 25 mins
Certificate
Genres	Horror
Language	English
Released	DVD: 20 Oct 2008 Production year: 1976
Format	DVD

Critics' reviews (2) of Eraserhead
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Filmed over a five-year period, this is the legendary cult movie that put director David Lynch on the morbid mystery map. Unlike any film ever made, Lynch's surreal study in urban alienation, retarded sexuality and parental nightmare is a relentless assault on the senses (maternal ones especially) that recalls Luis Buñuel's ground-breaking Un Chien Andalou in its powerfully graphic monochrome imagery and non-linear narrative. Consistently creepy, arcane and unsettling, many will find Lynch's intense mood piece increasingly uncomfortable to watch.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Lynch's remarkable first feature is a true original. There's little in the way of a coherent story: nervy Henry, living... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful member's review of Eraserhead
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20 out of 21 people found this review helpful

Surrealist masterpiece

I have been a huge fan of David Lynch for quite some time, and for some reason had just never gotten round to Eraserhead. Well I was not disappointed at all, it was nothing short of breathtaking. It carries a lot of familiar Lynch hallmarks, and fans should find it easily identifiable as the work of the enigmatic director. Of particular importance in this film are the stark and beautiful monochromatic images spewed onto the screen at a dizzying rate. When the film really hits its stride it can seem quite unsettling and often disturbing. Like any Lynch film there are enough obscure happenings and images to form your own opinions with regards to plot and narrative, but chiefly the film works best in its relentless mood and sensory overload. The sound is also used well, mirroring the industrial backdrop with a constant whirring, clanking ambience, which, along with the visuals give an oppressive feel to the film. The scene when Henry meets the 'Lady in the Radiator', and the final act are flawless in style and execution, and will stay with you long after viewing. Overall, if you are a fan of David Lynch you will love it, if not, it's probably not the best place to start but who knows!
- - CWaddell from Dundee, Scotland
  - Posted 14 Dec 2005 18:37
Most recent members' review of Eraserhead
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Erase your fears...

I would advise any Lynch fan to see this; his first real film. To anyone unfamiliar with Lynch, I recommend watching Mulholland Drive first, as this is a more accessible example of Lynch?s work. When you first watch Eraserhead, just view it as motion picture art - savour the surrealism and sheer style of the movie. However, if you want to delve deeper, there is a plot there ? just like Mulholland Drive and Lost Highway, Eraserhead uses symbolism throughout. Most of what goes on in the film represents fears and emotions close to Lynches heart at the time. If you want to learn exactly what Eraserhead is all about, take a trip over to IMDB and browse the Eraserhead forum, as explanations are out there...
- - Ben from Wiltshire, England
  - Posted 09 Jun 2005 16:37
News and features
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David Lynch returns with top marks
- 23 Feb 2007
Fans of David Lynch may be excited to find that his latest cinematic offering, Inland Empire, has been awarded five stars out of five by the latest issue of Empire magazine. Starring Laura Dern, the film is described by reviewer Damon Wise as "a dazzling and exquisitely original riddle", telling the story of an actress who believes her latest project is cursed. But Lynch followers will know that his films often dispel the notion of traditional narrative in favour of fragmented and... Read more
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