If you’re thinking about diving into the twisted, beautiful chaos of a David Lynch movie, let me start by saying this: you are not prepared. That’s not an insult; it’s just the truth. Watching a Lynch film is like trying to have a meaningful conversation in a dream where half the people are speaking Esperanto and the other half are made of fire. The experience is less about understanding and more about letting your brain marinate in a vat of inexplicable weirdness.
But don’t worry—I’m here to help. What follows is a non-comprehensive, slightly disjointed guide to surviving your first Lynchian encounter, whether it’s Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, or Eraserhead.
1. Throw Your Idea of “Story” Out the Window
Lynch doesn’t tell stories in the traditional sense. If you walk into his work expecting a coherent plot with clear resolutions, you’re going to feel like you accidentally signed up for a philosophy class taught by a mime. His films are less about plot mechanics and more about creating an atmosphere—a mood that lingers long after the credits roll. The best way to watch a Lynch film is to stop trying to “figure it out” and just exist in it.
2. Surrealism Isn’t a Style—It’s the Whole Point
David Lynch operates in a realm where Salvador Dalí would be the most boring guy in the room. His films don’t aim to make logical sense because that’s not their job. Lynch is chasing something bigger: a feeling, a thought, or a fear that lives in the shadows of your subconscious. Think of his movies as nightmares with better production values.
3. Look at Everything, but Don’t Expect Answers
Watching a Lynch movie means paying attention to details that seem important—colors, sounds, furniture placement—but might actually mean absolutely nothing. Or maybe they mean everything. The point is, Lynch doesn’t explain himself, and he doesn’t care if you’re confused. He once said, “I don’t think that people accept the fact that life doesn’t make sense.” So yeah, if you’re expecting a post-movie Q&A with Lynch where he explains why there was a severed ear in the field (Blue Velvet) or why that tiny cowboy appeared in Mulholland Drive, don’t hold your breath.
4. Sound Design Will Haunt You
Lynch’s films are as much about what you hear as what you see. The soundscapes he creates—full of droning hums, creepy whispers, and inexplicable industrial noises—aren’t just unsettling; they’re invasive. You don’t listen to Lynch’s sound design; you experience it, like a bad memory that doesn’t belong to you.
5. Themes That Will Make You Question Humanity
Every Lynch film explores certain ideas on repeat: the duality of human nature, the sinister underbelly of seemingly perfect suburban life, and the inability to tell where dreams end and reality begins. These aren’t just recurring themes—they’re obsessions. He’s not trying to say, “Look, life is messed up!” He’s saying, “Look how messed up it is that we’re pretending life isn’t messed up.”
6. The Characters Are Strangers You’ve Always Known
Lynch’s characters are never simple. They’re weird, complicated, and sometimes deeply unsettling. Even the most normal-seeming ones feel like they’re hiding something. And they probably are. Lynch doesn’t create heroes or villains in the conventional sense; he creates people who contain both, often in uncomfortable proximity.
7. The Unexpected Is the Only Thing You Can Expect
Just when you think you’ve got a handle on where the film is going, Lynch will pull the rug out from under you—and then set the rug on fire. He’ll hit you with inexplicable moments of absurd humor (a dancing dwarf, anyone?) or sudden bursts of horrifying violence. The point isn’t to shock you; it’s to remind you that Lynch’s world doesn’t play by your rules.
8. It’s Okay to Be Confused
Lynch’s films aren’t puzzles to be solved. They’re emotional Rorschach tests. If you feel confused after watching one, congratulations—you’re doing it right. These movies are designed to leave you with more questions than answers. But that’s the beauty of them: every interpretation is valid, and every viewing reveals something new.
9. You’ll Need to Watch It More Than Once
The first time you watch a Lynch film, you’re just trying to survive it. The second time, you start noticing patterns. The third time, you realize those patterns might just be your brain inventing order where there is none. But by the fourth time, you’ll be so far down the Lynchian rabbit hole that you’ll start seeing his influence everywhere—from The Simpsons to every indie movie that thinks it’s edgy.
10. Join the Lynch Mob
Once you’ve watched a Lynch film, the only logical next step is to find other people who’ve watched the same movie and argue about what it all means. You’ll discover fan theories that range from brilliant to completely unhinged, and that’s part of the fun. Lynch doesn’t provide answers, so we’re left to create our own.
The Lynchian Takeaway
Watching a David Lynch movie is less like watching a movie and more like being dropped into a world where everything is slightly wrong—but also kind of right. It’s disorienting, hypnotic, and sometimes maddening. But if you’re willing to let go of logic and embrace the chaos, you’ll discover something rare: a filmmaker who doesn’t just want to entertain you—he wants to unsettle you.
So press play, let the weirdness wash over you, and remember: it’s okay to have no idea what’s going on. That’s the point.