Eraserhead Isn't Dead

I like movies. Horror, Disney, Musicals; I have a varied list. And as a writer, my fiction-style tends to emanate a movie scene. I try to create a motion picture in people’s heads. I’ve found a lot of inspiration from many creative mediums. There isn’t anything wrong with taking inspiration from a book, a movie, a song, anything at all. But, there are some movies today in which I don’t know how they made the big screen (cough, cough, Fifty Shades Darker).

That’s why, even though I support some of these movies (Like Lego Batman, Logan, and A Dog’s Purpose), I love what I consider the classics, as they never seem to fail to appease my imagination. Labyrinth, Dirty Dancing, The Goonies, Grease, Jumanji and so much more. They are essential to my childhood.

And although these movies have a permanent place in my heart, the movie I want to focus on is important in a different way. It is the first movie I've experienced on campus that touched me on an emotional level and really impacted my perspective.

It is called Eraserhead, a cult-horror classic created in the late seventies by David Lynch. I saw it for the first time not long ago. I was skeptical at first, but amazed by the end result. I walked out of the auditorium, head swarming with endless ideas.

I’ll try to summarize for those that haven't seen it.

It has a very industrial feel, the main guide, the sound that permeates the movie. It is based on the Philadelphian industrial world, the songs of construction workers and clanging metal machines. The main character, Eraserhead, visits his “girlfriend” and finds out she is pregnant, and ends up having to marry her, but his child is deformed. There is a lady in the radiator for which he keeps going back. The symbolism is frequent. There is also a very strange, if not glorious, placement of comic relief that I am sure will make you feel at least two emotions at once.

My summary doesn’t do justice, because there is much more to the story, but I think that’s all you’ll need to know walking into the film. The rest is in the experience. The sounds, the story, the themes, even the colors all come together to create one of the best horror films ever! There are multiple reasons why; It invades the senses and attacks your brain in some sort of psychological battle, to where you don’t know what is happening because there is so much happening!

It’s phenomenal!

I gained many new ideas. I want to write in this style, talk about emotions and fear in a similar way, which I feel is a key point for creating a good horror movie and story.

The reason I want to raise attention for others is because I think it is unique and worth watching.You may or may not like it, sure, but it is worth a try. But, as advice for enjoying it, I suggest watching with enthusiasts, and others who don't know what the heck is happening, because enthusiasm is contagious. I didn’t just enjoy the film, but the reactions of the enthusiasts as well as the other newcomers was really thought provoking.

We had a discussion afterwards, which is another suggestion for gaining incite. Don’t be afraid to talk (I was) because you may just have an idea to which everyone else agrees or relates.

And if you don’t?

Then, you'll just add to the mysterious and beautifully chaotic meaning behind the magnificent movie of Eraserhead.

So enjoy!