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The Elephant Man Reviews

1980

80
from 12,684 members

David Lynch brings his own dreamlike style to the heartbreaking yet somehow uplifting story of John Merrick (John Hurt), a hideously deformed individual dubbed the Elephant Man during his years in a circus freak show in Victorian England. After suffering for years at the hands of his circus "master," the eloquent, soft spoken .. Read more

Starring	Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud
Director	David Lynch
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of The Elephant Man
View all critics' reviews (4)
- A curious story which happens to be true; the film sets its scene superbly, has splendid performances and a fascinating make-up. Yet it fails to move quite as it should, perhaps because the central figure is treated as a horrific come-on, like the hunchba
- 30880
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:41
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Most helpful member's review of The Elephant Man
View all members' reviews (64)
- - 24
  - 3
  Man or freak
  
  No one watching this film cannot be moved by the sheer physical pain and social misery and manipulation John Merrick - aka the elephant man, endured during his ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 301922
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - films2
  - Greater Manchester
  - 26 Mar 2004 at 17:16
Most recent members' reviews of The Elephant Man
View all members' reviews (64)
- - 0
  - 0
  a message
  
  this film is more than a true & sad story,
  
  more than beatifully made & acted,
  
  more than a view of humanity in its light & ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1116434
- - a customer
  - 04 May 2012 at 01:54
- - 2
  - 0
  fantastic film
  
  I am normally fussy with black and white, but this is a fantastic film. And a very sad true story.
  
  Report this review
- 1101239
- - Haythem
  - 1 review
  - 10 Mar 2012 at 23:00
- - 0
  - 2
  Beautiful but boring.
  
  I really liked the way this film was shot, and I thought the sound, performances and general gothic aesthetic were all fantastic. The film itself, though, was a... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1091936
- - Kowalski
  - 11 reviews
  - 13 Feb 2012 at 12:59
- - 0
  - 0
  early lynch treat
  
  david lynch's breakthrough 'the elephant man' is an essential viewing. this is a pensive, deeply engaged and highly reflective look on cruelty, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1090683
- - lukasz84
  - 62 reviews
  - 10 Feb 2012 at 01:25
- - 0
  - 0
  Very Good
  
  It was very good. Very mild way of easing yourself into David Lynch, if you need one, because he'd turned the weirdness dial way down on this film. Wasn'... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1043907
- - Ahooters
  - 4 reviews
  - 22 Sep 2011 at 22:32
- - 0
  - 0
  a must see movie
  
  as with all movies i watch with an open mind,i have always wanted to see this masterpeice and i am so glad that i had.it truly is a brilliant film that i will ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1026187
- - woganspuppet
  - 12 reviews
  - 06 Aug 2011 at 23:52
- - 0
  - 0
  Wow, tears and more tears!
  
  OMG, such a moving film, I remember my older cousins saying they had sat up late at night crying to this film and now I understand why.
  
  Moving, often... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1015447
- - Beckyblade
  - 4 reviews
  - Sheffield
  - 10 Jul 2011 at 19:46
- - 0
  - 0
  Boring the second time around
  
  My husband and I have both seen this film separately and so decided to rent it to watch together. We watched about half an hour and turned it off as we were ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1010897
- - mossy31
  - 12 reviews
  - 28 Jun 2011 at 21:10
- - 2
  - 2
  I pray to God he's an idiot
  
  ...The initial surprise is that the film is directed by the enigmatic surrealist David Lynch and produced by comedy legend Mel (Blazing Saddles) Brooks. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 986829
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Midnightcheeseandbiscuits
  - 26 reviews
  - London
  - 27 Apr 2011 at 20:52
- - 3
  - 1
  As good as I remembered
  
  I watched this film when it originally came out and I wanted to re-watch it with my daughters, who loved it too.
  
  Uncharacteristically straightforward... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 944728
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Federica
  - 5 reviews
  - Teddington, Middlesex
  - 05 Dec 2010 at 11:23
View all members' reviews (64)

- - 24
  - 3
  Man or freak
  
  No one watching this film cannot be moved by the sheer physical pain and social misery and manipulation John Merrick - aka the elephant man, endured during his ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 301922
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - films2
  - Greater Manchester
  - 26 Mar 2004 at 17:16
- - 11
  - 1
  Deeply touching
  
  David Lynch is a director ideally suited to deal with this sensitive subject. A world famous "freak" trying to survive in a post-industrial age.read more »
  
  Report this review
- 299183
- - blunderwood
  - East Sussex
  - 06 Feb 2004 at 15:58
- - 8
  - 0
  An Unforgettable Experience
  
  On one hand, the film invoked feelings of empathy through its portrayal of the needless suffering of John Merrick (known a The Elephant Man) who was incessantly... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 10276
- - Anne
  - London, England
  - 12 Jul 2004 at 16:43
- - 7
  - 0
  The most moving film ever...
  
  I have recently seen this for the first time, and it is genuinly one of the most compassionate and moving films I have ever watched. The performances are breath... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 4559
- - Michael Smith
  - Greater Manchester, England
  - 14 Apr 2004 at 14:48
- - 6
  - 1
  The Elephant Man
  
  This film would be betta if there wa a modern remake of it
  
  Report this review
- 753545
- - Krazykittyshell
  - 1 review
  - Aboyne
  - 07 May 2009 at 02:51
- - 7
  - 4
  Not so great.
  
  David Lynch is a god. Blue Velvet and Lost Highway are pure heaven in my books and I watched The Elephant Man with the excitement and anticipation of a 10 ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 301303
- - harley1
  - Greater London
  - 15 Mar 2004 at 11:12
- - 4
  - 0
  breathtaking
  
  i had seen this film years ago and enjoyed it very much, really wanted my children to have the moving experience i had, which they did.if watching this film ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 61702
- - a customer
  - surrey
  - 03 Jan 2005 at 00:00
- - 4
  - 0
  A real emotional weepy
  
  When I first watched this over 25 years ago I never imagined how affected I would be by it.The misery that this poor man suffered at the hands of some so called... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 596201
- - xanadu
  - 46 reviews
  - London
  - 10 Jul 2008 at 23:16
- - 4
  - 1
  The arty put to good use
  
  David Lynch's 'Eraserhead' may have its moments of interest but it also has stretches of tedium.
  
  The 'Elephant Man' shows what ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 912520
- - Moondog
  - 149 reviews
  - London
  - 08 Aug 2010 at 00:32
- - 4
  - 2
  Decent
  
  I thought the cinematography on this film was pretty good... the editing I thought was rubbish.
  
  We'd spend ages on a lovely long shot which ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 210546
- - a customer
  - InternetCasinos.co.uk
  - 23 Feb 2006 at 14:17

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- The Elephant Man - HD
  
  David Lynch brings his own dreamlike style to the heartbreaking yet somehow uplifting story of John Merrick (John Hurt), a hideously deformed individual dubbed the Elephant Man during his years in a circus freak show in Victorian England. After suffering for years at the hands of his circus "master,...

- - Buy
- The Elephant Man - Blu-ray
  
  David Lynch brings his own dreamlike style to the heartbreaking yet somehow uplifting story of John Merrick (John Hurt), a hideously deformed individual dubbed the Elephant Man during his years in a circus freak show in Victorian England. After suffering for years at the hands of his circus "master,...

- - Buy
- The Elephant Man
  
  David Lynch brings his own dreamlike style to the heartbreaking yet somehow uplifting story of John Merrick (John Hurt), a hideously deformed individual dubbed the Elephant Man during his years in a circus freak show in Victorian England. After suffering for years at the hands of his circus "master,...