Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) User Reviews

!kcoR s'teL

[symbioticpsychotic · 8/10 · 1 October 2005]

There's no doubt about it, Twin Peaks changed the living, breathing face and body of television, the soul and minds of those who watched it, and the attitudes of film and television makers everywhere, who watched what was intended to be a 2 hour Tele-movie become a phenomenon. A phenomenon that dissected the way television was made and shown to its very core, and reassembled it in a fashion that no one had ever witnessed, or dreamed of. A phenomenon that would sweep the world… Not since JR was shot in Dallas had the entire worldwide viewing public stopped to ask itself a question, for one brief, shining, crystallized moment, in 1990… Who Killed Laura Palmer? And so, with David Lynch's Fire Walk With Me, the question is not Who? But rather, Why? This film precedes the TV show, these are the last 7 days of Laura Palmer, and after watching this film, it is pretty apparent why Laura wanted to die, she lived in a world out of her grasp and control, she was desperately fighting what she was becoming, but realized that the forces that were pulling her down, were too strong for her to fight against… I knew someone like that once, and to be quite honest, it has changed the way I look at Laura Palmer. The first time I watched this film was in 1992 when it came out on VHS, I was 16 or 17 and I hated it. It wasn't Twin Peaks. It was horrible and violent and had none of the cuteness and quirkiness and lovable characters of the TV show, and I never watched it again. Watching it almost 15 years on, as an adult, I understand why I hated it so much when I was a kid. As a 16-17 year male, I had absolutely no concept or understanding of what it would be like to be Laura Palmer, completely unable to relate to her, and therefore completely unable to understand or sympathize. Completely unable to understand what it would mean to live in a world where everyone is in love with you, and how that would only make you hate yourself more, when you hate yourself so much already.

This is a really sad movie. It really puts you in to Laura Palmer's world, or what's left of it, briefly. Maybe too brief, but, you know, maybe I read too much in to films, or I get too close too them, but this film has changed Twin Peaks for me forever. And it's quite possible that it will do the same for you. Even though she was dead before the opening credits, I never realized until watching this film again that Laura was never freed, she was always in 'purgatory' if you will, always in the Red Room when we saw her, or seeing a flashback of her murder during the course of the TV show. Fire Walk With Me gives something to Laura Palmer that she had been denied on television.

Release.

For the most part, this film was not made for the fans, nor was it made for the money, Lynch made this film for Laura palmer. His love of her is what inspired him to breathe life into her character on the big screen, after taking it away on the small. This is his dance, first and final, with Laura Palmer. It is not ours to be involved with, it is ours only to watch the romance between character and director evolve and be burnt too soon. It is ours only to witness, not too understand or judge, not to ask or question.

From the opening shot, a television with no reception, which is quickly obliterated by an Axe, it is quite clear that this ain't no TV show, and if the symbolism of the TV being smashed isn't enough to tell you that, then the opening scene will. This is the part of Twin Peaks that simply never would have made it to TV. The real Twin Peaks, if you will, the dark, tortured, seedy underbelly of a town with too few people, and too many secrets, the sort of place that exists almost everywhere in the world (with the exception of Cicely, Alaska).

Possibly the most surreal film I've seen

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 11 July 2012]

Having enjoyed the television series 'Twin Peaks' I was keen to see this as well as a little trepidations; could it possibly live up to the series? Now I have just finished watching it I'm not sure what to think; it was just that strange!

The film doesn't open with the events in Twin Peaks but with the previous victim Teresa Banks; two FBI agents go to investigate her murder; one of them takes her body to Portland to be examined while the other stays being to ask a few more questions; this one then vanishes without a trace. Cooper is then put on the case. Moving forward a year the action heads to Twin Peaks where we see the final events leading up to the death of schoolgirl Laura Palmer.

This may be set before the television series but it is best not to watch this first as it shows who killed Laura and that is the key mystery for most of the series… it might be interesting to watch this before watching the series for a second time though. Since she died before the first episode Laura didn't feature much in the series but here she is the protagonist Sheryl Lee plays her once again and does a fine job depicting a girl who is terrified of what is happening around her but is powerless to stop it. Several cast members return although Donna is now played by Moira Kelly; she does a decent job but it is odd seeing somebody other than Lara Flynn Boyle in the role. Since no murder has been committed at the time we don't get to see any of the Sheriff's Department; nor do many other familiar faces.

Many viewers may be surprised at just how strange this is, I certainly was! The opening scene sets the tone though when an FBI agent is given advice about his case by the appearance of a woman in a red dress… she does not say a word; just makes a face and moves her hands a bit while walking on the spot! It isn't long before that seams positively normal… there are visits to the Red Room which are not subtitled so it is hard to understand what is being said; there are similar difficulties during a long scene where loud music is played; this serves to increase the feeling of confusion; in a good way. It sounds a strange thing to say but I think I enjoyed this but I'll have to watch it again before I can be sure… I'd recommend it to fans of Lynch's other works and fans of the series should definitely try it… even if they might end up hating it!

David Lynch's most underrated film

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 15 November 2014]

Not Lynch at his best(that would be Blue Velvet, though personal favourite is The Elephant Man), it is a very good film and should please fans of the TV series, even if darker in tone and lacking the show's humour. Lynch's films may be strange, unconventional and not always easy to understand for some, but all of them are visually striking, dynamically scored and with great performances, atmosphere and direction as well as working amazingly as mood pieces and being among the most unique films in existence- the only film of his that I didn't care for was Dune, was mixed on Inland Empire too but that still had a lot of the above components.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me may not be as good as the TV series but did not deserve the negative reception it got at the time. The few flaws it has has nothing to do with being darker and lacking the show's humour, they are not even flaws. David Bowie did stick out like a sore thumb and to me was embarrassingly bad(though a lot of it was to do with how his character was written) but the film's biggest flaw was that you could tell that it was originally written as a much longer film, with so much truncated there were parts where things felt under-explained and incomplete, a longer length would have helped(personal opinion of course and not one other people will share).

Coming onto however what was good about Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, the film does everything else right. As said before, Lynch's films are always visually great, and to say that Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me looks great visually is not enough. The film in fact has wonderfully moody cinematography and lovingly designed sets, while the surreal imagery looks so mesmerising that regardless of whether the story confuses you you cannot possibly look away. Lynch's direction as ever is impeccable, his style unmistakable and the haunting soundtrack draws you in effortlessly. The story won't be everyone's cup of tea, I did find myself completely engrossed and found it along with Sophie Scholl: The Final Days one of the most powerful films personally seen in a while. Sure, it did feel under-explained and incomplete in parts but it never bored me and like every other Lynch film as a mood piece it's amazing. Parts were incredibly intense and shocking(the most intense parts making for one of the most disturbing films there is) but others were genuinely emotional as well. Regarding individual scenes in a film where one hypnotic scene follows another, the strobe-lit disco degradation stuck out in particular.

Apart from Bowie, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me is very well-acted, Sheryl Lee is superb and at times heart-breaking as an easy-to-root-for character while Ray Wise is just terrifying as one of the scariest father figures on film. Harry Dean Stanton, Kiefer Sutherland and Kyle MacLauchlan are on fun form too. In conclusion, a very under-appreciated film and undeservedly so. 8/10 Bethany Cox

The evil that (wo)men do

[ggolden · 18 July 2002]

This remains my favorite of Lynch's "difficult" films of the last decade, which include "Lost Highway" and "Mulholland Dr." Absolutely no one can establish a mood of dread like Lynch, and this film is superlative in this respect. Images, sound design, and Sheryl Lee's near-miraculous performance all contribute to something much closer to a Horror Film than the genre with the actual namesake.

It seems that many fans of the Twin Peaks TV series were very disappointed with this film. I read over and over how "peakies" feel the movie lacks the "quirky, off-beat, kinda funny" tone of the TV series. Well, step back and consider something: the central themes of the movie AND the TV show are 1.) father-daughter incest, 2.) drug addiction, and 3.) murder. I guess we're all pretty desensitized, what with TV shows like "Law and Order" and Jerry Bruckheimer movies all purporting to give us action and thrills that are gritty and hard-bitten.

Lemme tell ya, that stuff ain't gritty and hard-bitten. Rape victims on TV shows are paper-thin stereotypes compared to the Laura Palmer of "Fire Walk With Me." Why? Because Lynch shows us the HORROR, the inescapable, fenced-into-a-corner hysterical inevitableness of a young girl who can't cope with her father's abuse of her, who then turns to drugs and increasingly can't cope with those either, and who finally sees the true tragedy of her life before it's even finished playing out. The wings disappear from the picture.

What "Fire Walk" offers in its portrait of evil and abuse is the full gamut of emotions, not just fear and anger (though there is plenty of that), but also aching, aching sadness, loneliness, abandonment. Lynch did a fairly good job of conveying this within the confines of a TV show with commercials (remember how the first half hour of the pilot was just people crying?), but in the movie he really gets to go town.

Incest and drug abuse are absolutely devastating. This movie is absolutely devastating, and so touches the truth.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

[ash-kong · 7/10 · 22 November 2016]

It's almost impossible to know where to begin with a review for this film. From the very beginning, director David Lynch lets the viewer know that this is not just a two-hour-and-fifteen-minute episode of the cult classic television show (that he and writer Mark Frost created) put on film and released to theaters. However, this film serves as both a prequel and a sequel (of sorts) to the T.V. show.

The basic summary of the plot is that this film is essentially a eulogy to one of the television's central characters: Laura Palmer (of which we saw precious little of in the actual show) and an exploration of her last seven days in this mortal coil. The film depicts her many struggles; these include her drug abuse, her sexual promiscuity, her struggle with maintaining innocence within her dark lifestyle, and her crumbling relationships with her best friend Donna Heyward, her football-hero-boyfriend Bobby Briggs, and the true love of her life, James Hurley.

The film also explores her strained relationship with her father (who, if the viewer has watched the t.v. show will know, brings upon the untimely demise of his own daughter) and her having to cope with the struggles of living at home with a psychotic molester. In addition, the film explores the mythology created in the t.v. show surrounding Bob (The evil spirit that possesses Laura's father) and the Red Room/Black Lodge(where Bob and other strange entities roam in a zigzag patterned room surrounded by red curtains and sparse furniture).

What is most amazing of about the film is how it dove-tails many minor characters from the show and most of the clues that were given about Laura Palmer's murder and weaves them almost seamlessly into the plot. The prologue details the murder of Teresa Banks (only mentioned on the t.v. show) and how the investigation a year prior to Laura's own murder ties in with the show and plot of this film. Such attention to detail pays off and really bring characters like Ronette Palaski (the lady wondering aimlessly in the pilot episode) to light with a certain appreciation that wasn't there before (There is a tear-jerking scene towards the end that shows Ronette as an angel, symbolizing that she will be the one who will help to bring Laura's murderer to justice)

Another aspect of the film that fans will sure to appreciate is how the film transports a few bits of the second season (after Laura's murderer had been revealed) and sort of goes back-and-forth in time and gives an illusion, if not a definite answer, to where the new show (coming in 2017) may go.

The film is a bit of challenge to watch, but in a way that was strikingly similar to the first viewing of his masterpiece "Blue Velvet". The first time watching any of Lynch's films will put the viewer through a state of utter bewilderment after viewing. Often times, one is left wondering what they watched, or if they had watched anything at all, and not just imagined it.

Personally, I rather liked the film (though I wouldn't say it was quite as brilliant as "Blue Velvet"), and found it to be a great addition to the "Twin Peaks" mythology. However, the film did have its flaws. While it is understandable that Lynch wanted to set this film apart in a way from the series as far as graphic content (such as nudity and violence), it doesn't feel completely necessary and therefore takes away a bit of the story's intentions rather than adds to the effect. Another is that some scenes feel longer than they should be and scenes that should've been longer are too short for the impact they were going for. (The unevenness may have mostly to do with the fact that the film was cut down from nearly four hours!)

It was very ambitious for Lynch to set out and make this film, tackling so many themes (the angst of teenage years, the loss of innocence in a picturesque town, time-travel between two worlds) as well as trying to please both fans of the show and newcomers to the world of Twin Peaks. And while, for Peaks fans, the film may disappoint on some level for not having all of the characters from the t.v. show (Sheriff Truman, Deputy Andy and "Hawk", Audrey Horne, etc.), it is commendable on Lynch's part that he did not just try to shoe-horn everyone's favorite characters from the show at the risk of corrupting the overall themes of the film. Therefore, Lynch deserves some credit, as he nearly hits home with all that sets out to accomplish.

Overall, this is a well-done film with Lynch at his darkest (with some of the themes and imagery being a bit of a throwback to the director's earlier films, especially "The Grandmother"). The acting is great all around (especially Sheryl Lee as Laura Palmer and Chris Isaak as Agent Chester Desmond-a character created specifically for the film), the soundtrack is wonderful and the lighting/cinema photography is excellent as per usual of a Lynch film. However, this film is not for all tastes and it is recommended to see the show first and then to watch the film, which undoubtedly brings more resonance to the proceedings.

Severely under-rated prequel to one of the best TV series ever

[mstomaso · 10/10 · 16 October 2004]

By the time this film was released, critics and TV audiences had already decided its decidedly mediocre box-office fate. The usual network attitude toward anything which demands thought and interpretation assured the cancellation of the series in its second season, and Lynch's departure from the show's director's chair to begin this film project all but sealed the fate of the show. Unfortunately, this same fate determined both the critical and public approach to the film project.

TP:FWWM is a prequel to the two-season Twin Peaks saga, and (sort of) answers the question 'how and why did Laura Palmer die?'. Fans of the show mostly knew the answers before they saw this film, but to see Laura's life so vividly realized, and to see the TV characters cast into such a different, more harsh, surreal and disturbing light, really invigorates the entire TP phenomenon. FWWM actually inspired me to watch the entire series again (and as of 2004, I am in the process of watching it again). Fans of the series who found themselves disappointed by the final few episodes of the series because they felt it became too bizarre, are likely to find this film more gripping, though they will probably end up as unsatisfied as they were at the onset. Those who found the second season thrillingly experimental are likely to be surprised by the subtlety of and dramatic quality of this film. Those, like me, who approach the film with few tangible expectations might just find themselves, compelled, disturbed, and very entertained.

The performances are generally very good, but not entirely even. Some TV cast-members, given the vastly expanded possibilities of cinema, really showed their range and depth. Sheryl Lee, MacLachlan, Dana Ashbrook, and Ray Wise were especially impressive. The cinematography is less powerful than the usual Lynchian vision (see Eraserhead, Lost Highway for extreme examples), and is more in keeping with the TV show's straightforward, but moody, photographic approach. The overall production values are, in fact, comparable to those of Mulholland Drive - also originally planned by Lynch as a TV show. Though more subtle than many of Lynch's more extravagant works, TP:FWWM is very successfully manipulative and powerful.

I ardently appreciate Lynch, considering him one of cinema and performance's greatest contemporary artists. And I am unashamed to state that I believe this to be among his finest works. Many of Lynch's fans love to write interpretations of Lynch himself, as if all of his films are in some way connected beyond the obvious fact that he directed (and more often than not scripted) them. I do not disagree with this approach, but, in my opinion, any such universalizing comments more or less miss the point. Lynch is one of many director's who view film as an art form, not as a craft, nor as a vehicle for specific messages and stories. As Lynch has stated, repeatedly, his films involve a dream-like reality and often attempt to invoke a dream or nightmare state in viewers. Unlike most, however, Lynch succeeds in the purity of his art. His films demand interpretation, engagement and, what's more, demand a different and unique interpretation by most who view them.

If you are looking for something which can be universally interpreted from TP:FWWM as part of this imagined set of Lynchian themes, I am not the reviewer to give it, look elsewhere. I have too much respect for Lynch's artistry to subject him to my own interpretive explanations.

If you are looking for a simple story which will clear up the insanity of Twin Peaks, don't bother with FWWM.

If you are looking, open-mindedly, for an intense, disturbing, and well constructed cinematic experience which creates more questions than it answers, and retains elements of mystery in a fatalistically driven plot environment, you've come to the right place.

Gone is the fairy tale called Twin Peaks..

[grinten38 · 7/10 · 9 July 2007]

They say it's a prequel to the series Twin Peaks. However, it is in stark contrast to the hit series. This movie is dark and raw, colors are flat, nothing comes close to the slick looks of the series. It is almost a ritual farewell by David Lynch regarding his Twin Peaks the series. Gone is that fairy tale like feeling of the series, this movie is B-style in your face drama with typical Lynch weirdness.

If anything it's prequel to Lost Highway and Mulholland drive. Disturbing images, road rage, shots of a highway at night. Twisted characters. Nothing makes sense at first, you cannot take it literally, you have to read into it. When stripped of its madness, what's left is a tale of an abusive father, raping his daughter. And she uses drugs to escape this reality and ends up in the darkness of our lives. A side we all know is there, but try to deny for as long as possible. The opposite of the fairy tale so to speak.

So if you're a fan of the series, this one might just be too raw for the senses. Expect violence, nudity, drugs and disturbing images.

The Fan Edit is Better than the Theatrical Cut

[behappysmile · 9/10 · 1 August 2017]

If you are currently watching "Twin Peaks" on Showtime and are a little confused then you should watch "Fire Walk With Me". As much as I am enjoying some of the new episodes of "Twin Peaks" it is a little strange!

I know people that have never seen the show before are saying one thing "What the Hell"? I can't blame them because the show seems to be catering to the die hard fans of the show. Most of all it is catering to people that know and remember every character from not only the show but the film "Fire Walk With Me".

Now I was always a fan of the television show. I was mad that the show had ended with a cliffhanger.

I was happy to hear that "Fire Walk With Me" was coming. A year later when it was released I was shocked that it did not solve the television cliffhanger however I did enjoy the film.

I thought it was strange but very good. Fans of the show hated "Fire" because most the cast from the television show were not featured. It also din't help that the film was too violent for some fans. In the television show it was about "Who killed Laura Palmer. "Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me" The film was about why she murdered.

I will admit the film is very confusing. The GREEN RING was a new element that was never mentioned in the television show. Also what was really annoying to me was that the murder of Laura slightly differs from what we were told on the television show. In the television show we are told (Through Waldo the Bird) that Laura kept saying "Leo No" and that Laura had a poker chip in her stomach. These events are not shown in "Fire".

The assembly cut of the film was rumored to have run over 5 hours. When the the film was released it ran 135 minutes. Most of all the film did not resolve the cliffhanger from the television show.

Before the film was released in the USA it Premiered at the "Cannes Film Festival" and it was booed. Now I am not sure if they saw a different version of "Fire" but the film was panned everywhere. This was a shock to David because the pilot to the television show was "The Best Reviewed" television pilot of all time.

Well most fans had herd before "Fire's" release was that there was many cut scenes that featured the television cast. For years the fans were hoping that those scenes would turn up somewhere. BE it an extended television cut of the film or a special edition on home video. After all in 1984 David Lynch directed the film "Dune". A few years later when the film when shown on television it had about an hour of never before seen footage so hopes were high that this would be the case for "Fire" but that never happened until 2014 when David Lynch finally released the deleted footage. This was 22 years after the film was released.

However these scenes were not edited back into the film. David Lynch likes the theatrical cut of "Fire" so he did not want to tamper with it. However fans did and someone who goes by Q2 made a great edit that included the deleted scenes and in reality it is a better film however, it does run 3 1/2 hours! Best News is that it does solve the cliffhanger from the television show!

What is strange is that for a fan edit is that it runs smoother than the theatrical edition. The original theatrical version is shorter but seems longer! Now there is a few scenes that were re- edited back in that were not needed. On the plus side the fan edit does improve the viewers vision on the problems that Laura had to face in the last 7 days of her life! If you ever get the chance to see this edit it is worth watching, It makes "Fire" a masterpiece!

Strictly for Lynch devotees; anyone else, steer clear

[KnightLander · 7/10 · 20 June 2005]

I had heard much about the cult television series "Twin Peaks", and decided to buy the First Season on DVD. When I found that none of the stores near me had it in stock, I decided to pick up the movie instead. In some ways, this was good. In some, it was bad. Let me explain ...

In 1991, "Twin Peaks" was canceled. Immediately popular director David Lynch, who also created and wrote most of the show, said that he wasn't finished with the show yet ... and set to work making a movie that would close off the "Twin Peaks" phenomenon. "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me" - this film - is the result, a 135 minute journey into a realm where insanity and madness reign supreme.

"Fire Walk With Me" is a prequel to "Twin Peaks". The first thirty minutes deal with two FBI agents, Chester Desmond (Chris Isaak) and Sam Stanley (Kiefer Sutherland), who are investigating the murder of a young girl in the small town of Twin Peaks. Just when Desmond seems to have a suspect, we fade out and find that we are months later. From there, the film follows the events leading up to the mysterious death of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), which the series focused on. Kyle MacLachlan has some screen time as the series' main character, Dale Cooper.

This is probably the hardest film to review in the world. First of all, let me say that if you aren't a fan of "Twin Peaks" or of David Lynch, you will be lost shortly after the film begins. This movie was created solely for "Twin Peaks" lovers, and if you haven't seen the show, the mystery of who killed Laura Palmer is unveiled in this movie.

If ever there has been a movie that is pure insanity, it is this. "Fire Walk With Me" is one-hundred percent madness. And yet, throughout the whole film, I was completely mesmerized. And when the movie ended, I couldn't speak or do anything for about an hour. This movie truly has an effect on you, whether you're a fan of the show or not.

The cast is terrific, but it's David Lynch and Angelo Baladamenti who steal the show. Lynch is either a madman or a genius - I can't decide between the two. But Baladamenti is certainly a master composer, because his score for this film is beautiful.

Seeing is believing. That fits perfectly from this film. Perhaps after I watch the show, I will better understand this film. Until then, I can just say that it the most indescribable, frightening, mesmerizing, and astonishing film I've ever seen.

A great but disturbing film...

[OrigamiDoug · 9/10 · 20 January 2003]

Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of David Lynch's movies. Even if I don't completely understand them the first time around, they always evoke a strong emotional response from me. This film was no different. It was alternately beautiful and horrifying due to the duality of Laura's life. Knowing that Laura was ultimately going to end up dead created a sense of dread that stayed with me throughout the entire film. Scenes such as Mike confronting Leland on the road and David Bowie's appearance as Agent Jeffries frightened me, for some reason, more than any horror film I've ever seen. But the scenes that show Laura accepting her fate are the most chilling of all; here is a girl who, under different circumstances, would have been a pure and normal individual. But she was corrupted by an evil force and instead used her inner strength to choose to die rather than succumb completely to BOB. Sheryl Lee's performance was flawless, and the rest of the cast turned in great performances as well. TP:FWWM is my favorite Lynch film, and one of my top five favorites. 9 out of 10

For Twin Peaks die-hards only

[hall895 · 6/10 · 18 May 2007]

If you were not a fan of the Twin Peaks television series you would not want to bother watching this film. Fire Walk with Me pretty much requires the viewer to have already seen every episode of the television show. If you haven't you will be well and truly lost as you watch this film unfold in the bizarre Twin Peaks universe. Assuming you have the requisite working knowledge of all things Twin Peaks heading in you'll at least be able to understand the film. Whether you'll like the film is an iffy proposition at best.

Fire Walk with Me is a prequel to the television series which means Laura Palmer is alive. But before we can get to Laura there's a thirty-minute or so prologue (a prequel within a prequel?) about the investigation into the murder of Teresa Banks, whom all the Twin Peaks die-hards know was the first victim of the killer who would eventually murder Laura. After what any fan of the television show will see as some typical weirdness, and not much in the way of resolution, the prologue ends and we move forward in time, jumping into the final week of Laura Palmer's life. It's nice to see Laura alive for the first time. The television show had already established Laura was not the sweet, innocent homecoming queen she seemed but her demons were, for the most part, only hinted at on TV. In Fire Walk with Me those demons are on full display. Where the television show was subtle, the movie is in your face. A little too much in your face some might say as David Lynch takes full advantage of all the opportunities provided by producing an R-rated movie. Certainly nothing is held back here as we watch Laura Palmer spiral downward towards her sad end.

In the rather brutal telling of the story of Laura Palmer's final days all the charm of the television series has been lost. For all the terrible things that occurred in the series the show always had that small-town, quirky charm. Not here. For the Twin Peaks fan it's nice to see those familiar characters again. And the film does add a lot to the Laura Palmer story and allows you to get to know her much better. But you may come away wishing you hadn't gotten to know her quite so well. Perhaps some things are better left unspoken and unseen. There were two sides of Laura Palmer and this film shows you much too much of the dark side. There was a lot of good in her, watching this film makes it hard to remember that even as you can't help but sympathize with the way she is being taken advantage of and the way she will meet her ultimate fate.

If you're a real Twin Peaks fan you really do have to see the movie. There is a lot to like about it. The story is captivating as ever, if decidedly less charming in this go-around. And the performances from the cast are mostly very good, most notably from Sheryl Lee who finally gets to play a living, breathing Laura Palmer after having been introduced to the world dead and wrapped in plastic. And Ray Wise as Laura's father Leland also does fine work in portraying a disturbing and complicated character. We never got to see Leland and Laura interact in the series and their relationship is fascinating to watch. Fascinating and also more than a little creepy as the movie's Leland is a constantly ominous, threatening presence. You'll miss Lara Flynn Boyle who for the film has been replaced in the role of Donna by Moira Kelly. Kelly fails to bring the same spark to the character that Boyle did. And while many of the characters from the show return you'll miss those who notably don't. Audrey and Benjamin Horne, Sheriff Truman, Deputies Andy and Hawk, Doc Hayward and Pete Martell and Big Ed...would have been nice to see them and some others one last time if even just briefly. It is nice to have the opportunity to go back to the Twin Peaks universe. Unfortunately it's not quite the universe you remember. This is a much darker, sinister and decidedly less enjoyable Twin Peaks. Sometimes you can't go home again.

The best part of the Twin Peaks story.

[wholelottalove-93562 · 10/10 · 13 October 2019]

Sheryl Lee's performance in this movie is surreal. She's graceful, disturbed, and fearless all at once. Her attempts to fight against the evil chasing her are simultaneously desperate and confident.

The missing pieces are essential to enjoying the whole crazy ride that is Fire Walk With Me. If you enjoy Laura's story and POV, I'd suggest reading the Secret Diary as well.

As always, you hate it or you love it with David Lynch. I can't believe this movie receives such flack with such fine performances and visuals from all involved.

Decent Companion Piece to Twin Peaks

[truemythmedia · 6/10 · 25 February 2020]

I'm a huge David Lynch fan ("Mulholland Drive", "Eraserhead"), and while unabashedly love the first season and a half of the groundbreaking TV show Twin Peaks, it took me a long time to get through the latter half of the second season of the aforementioned show because it sort of started to go off the rails when Lynch wasn't steering the ship. Just to give you a sense of timing: it took me about two weeks to get through the first season and a half (first eighteen episodes), and then after I found out who killed Laura Palmer and why, it took me almost a year to finish those final twelve episodes. I did finally finish those less-than-stellar episodes, and I was surprised to find that despite my relative disappointment with most of season two, the series finale was pretty great, and it left me eagerly awaiting this film, and then completing my Twin Peaks journey with Twin Peaks: The Return (I'm only a few episodes in so far, but it's fantastic). I was so excited after the season two finale that I jumped right from that episode to this movie (like I'm sure many of the hardcore fans of the series did when this film hit theaters).

As a whole, I'm sort of conflicted about this movie. I think it's a very good companion piece to Twin Peaks, as it tells the story of Laura Palmer's final days leading up to her murder from Laura's perspective, revealing all of the information we learned about Laura and Twin Peaks in an easily digestible two-hour-and-fifteen minute chunk. In a lot of ways, I like this film: any time that I get to visit Twin Peaks with David Lynch as my guide, I'm happy. At the same time, I'm not really sure if this film needs to exist, as it doesn't reveal any new information, and it essentially spoils the whole story of the first two seasons. The only people who can really appreciate this movie for what it is are those who have seen the show, and those people already know everything that's going to happen in this movie, they just haven't seen it from Laura's perspective.

Not quite what I was hoping for....

[jdjc001 · 4/10 · 7 November 2020]

A couple of months ago, I watched the Twin Peaks series in full for the first time and, for the most part, enjoyed it. It was charming yet mysterious, and for a while it kept your eyes glued to the screen. Sadly, after Laura's killer was revealed, it went completely off the tracks and even the acclaimed ending of the second season deeply disappointed and bewildered me, but I was willing to chalk it up to the fact that David Lynch was attempting to undo the damage made during his absence. With all that in mind, I had high hopes for this film, as Lynch would once again be able to take control of his story and provide a new insight into the chilling story of Laura Palmer. Unfortunately, it really missed the mark for me.

10 minutes into the movie, I was already feeling deeply disappointed. The Teresa Banks story is clearly very unfinished and holds no bearing to the grand scheme of the film. Further still, Chris Isaak is no Kyle MacLachlan, but even MacLachlan's parts seemed largely pointless, and I have no idea what the hell that David Bowie cameo was for. Granted, these are things that I believe are discussed in The Return, however at the time it would've been totally baffling. Furthermore, I'm sure people would've felt ripped off in these first 10 minutes as I did considering the film is supposed to be chronicling the final days of Laura Palmer as advertised. Nevertheless, the problems don't end there.

The Laura Palmer story, while made engaging by Sheryl Lee, is simply a live-action retelling of almost everything we already know from the series. I don't have a big problem with this per se, but I was really hoping for more of a new insight into her story. This does come in the form of the scenes with Leland/BOB which are all very good, however time which should've been spent there was instead wasted with Bobby, James and Donna. Don't get me wrong, they are all important characters when discussing Laura's story, but having Donna attend One Eyed Jack's and having Bobby kill someone were pointless and (especially in the case of Bobby) nonsensical additions. Having James around was also pointless because despite allegedly caring about her so much he does absolutely nothing to try and stop her from running away.

On top of all this, there's the lacklustre Black Lodge stuff. I'm perfectly fine with absurdity (I really love how it's done in Mulholland Drive) but here it just feels really forced with the weird costumes and random dialogue. It would be better if we were at least given some context, but instead it's just kind of...there. I understand once again that this kind of content is discussed further in The Return but as a stand alone film it feels like it was something that either should've been expanded upon or simply scrapped. I can certainly see why audiences at the time felt bewildered.

Overall, while the movie did have some redeeming qualities, I can't help but feel like it just fell flat on its face. I think the fact that Lynch made this movie because 'he couldn't leave the world of Twin Peaks' is quite telling as this movie is clearly made primarily for him and his most die-hard fans who think everything he does is the deepest artwork ever created. Perhaps I'd have to see The Return to fully appreciate parts of this, but even without the Black Lodge/lore stuff this movie still undeniably has a lot of flaws in my opinion.

The Enigma Of Laura Palmer, Uncovered

[Chrysanthepop · 28 February 2009]

David Lynch's prequel to his TV Show 'Twin Peaks' drowns the viewer into the psyche of Laura Palmer, who was a crucial enigma of the series (but then again, 'Twin Peaks' is full of enigmas and riddles). The darkness of the human mind has been a consistent theme in many of Lynch's works. Other more recent examples include 'Mulholland Drive' and 'Inland Empire'. 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me' is brutal, stark, graphic and horrifyingly disturbing.

'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me' may not be as technically 'polished' as Lynch's other films and the low budget shows (but is not bothersome at all). Yet, the closeups have a very strong effect as it provides some evidence of fine acting. Sheryl Lee is at the centre of the film and she is astonishingly superb. Someone should give this actress more roles. Ray Wise, Moira Kelly, Kyle Mclachlan and the rest of the supporting cast are of note. The visuals, even though this is during the pre-CGI boom, are mesmerizing. And of course, what would a Lynch film be without symbolism. They are plentiful but I won't give my interpretation as they are best discovered first hand.

Many feel that the story is inconsistent but to me it all fits well together. Towards the end it is depressing, as the viewer has witnessed all the layers of Laura's agony in detail. It is not a comfortable film to watch. After all, she was just a normal American teenager who has experienced the worst of life and this movie grips the viewer and shows her life breaking into irreparable pieces. Yet, given the heavy theme 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me' is a film worth experiencing, especially for fans of the series and Lynch's other works.

The Eyes of Laura Palmer

[miss_lady_ice-853-608700 · 7/10 · 23 August 2022]

Whilst the film is by no means a masterpiece, it has some great moments. The first 30 minutes, in which special agent Chet Desmond (Chris Isaak) and partner (Kiefer Surherland) investigate the murder of the first victim, Theresa Banks, are irrelevant to the rest of the film as that plot thread completely disappears. I believe the intention was to creare a series of films but as that didn't go ahead, skip the first 30 minutes (which are the closest to the tone of Twin Peaks in that they are surreal, some offbeat humour as well as the horror of the murder). David Bowie's cameo is miniscule.

The film really centres on the last week of Laura Palmer's life. Although the plot points aren't new to anyone who's watched Twin Peaks- they might even be used as flashbacks in the TV show were the content turned down- it is interesting to explore Laura's life through her eyes. In Twin Peaks the series, Laura is seen through different people's eyes so that they each have their 'version' of her, but here we get to see the nightmare, even darker than the show and the same level of surrealness. It's very Lynchian- i.e. Dreamlike/nightmarish with more nudity and violence than could ever have been shown on the TV show.

Moira Kelly is a good recast as Donna and it was great to see their friendship, perhaps the only real light in Laura's life.

As for Kyle MacLachlan as Dale Cooper, he's in it for a small amount in the first 30 minutes and then the final shot, so really the main draw is whether you want to see Laura's experience depicted on screen. Sheryl Lee as Laura gives a powerful performance that reflects the magnetic power Laura held over Twin Peaks residents.

Do not watch this film if you haven't watched the TV show as major plot points are revealed; if you have already watched the show, you won't get any more clues as to meaning. It's just a very powerful character study with some shocking moments even though we know who the killer is, and a woozy nightclub scene which feels dreamlike and nightmarish.

How does a woman feel in the dark?

[ShawnM1 · 10/10 · 21 February 2008]

I lack the ability to objectively scrutinize this film's value on a movie-goers' level. This film's artistry took me beyond the aesthetic and intellectual, and into a phsychological landscape I haven't been before or since.

One must grasp the chaos, or have been a witness to it in their own reality, to feel the depth of this film and Lynch's use of contrasting landscapes of innocence vs. evil, duality, contradiction, femininity, nostalgia, Etc., that somehow manage to make perfect sense: as long as we don't try to make sense of it. This film is about getting lost. It must be intuited, felt in the dark, to be truly appreciated. It's the only cinematic experience that I call "magical". I was unable to review this in an impersonal way.

Besides that, and for those who don't really "get it", the acting, directing, production, writing, plot, Etc. all make the film worth seeing more than once. But those are just the little things.

Even for David Lynch this is pretty disturbing

[preppy-3 · 7/10 · 5 July 2008]

A prequel to the cult TV series "Twin Peaks". It chronicles the last week in the life of teenager Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). She's beautiful and popular...but there's a lot of disturbing things happening with her that people know nothing about. In the TV series it was hinted at or talked about--in this movie it's in your face and pretty disturbing. Also the movie has bits and pieces showing the residents of the town that because regulars on the series.

This movie had problems. The original cut was 5 hours long (!!!) and was cut down to 135 minutes. A lot of peoples subplots were reduced or eliminated entirely. It was booed when it played at the Cannes Film Festival and died at the box office here in the U.S. I can see why people didn't like this. It's dark, vicious, cruel and there's barely a let-up. Lee is in practically the entire film and she's just superb. She had an extremely difficult complex role which involved plenty of nudity, sex, drug taking and abuse. Her acting is so good it's hard to just shrug this movie off. Ray Wise as her father Leland matches her.

DEFINITE SPOILER!!!! He's basically raping his daughter while possessed by an evil spirit called BOB. BOB is only in him at certain times. You literally see Wise's face and expression change when he's possessed or going back. That's gotta be hard but Wise pulls it off. END SPOILER!!!!

The entire cast is good too--especially Dana Ashbrook and James Marshall. I loved it at first. Lynch keeps throwing images and bizarre dialogue at you and giving you just enough to figure it. But, halfway through, there's a bar sequence that goes on far too long and is extremely unpleasant. After that I started to get bored and disgusted. Lynch never stops and when it ends I felt drained. The acting, directing, music and everything is great here--but the dark tone and constant negativity really wore me down. I DO recommend it though--in a way. It challenges you and doesn't treat the audience like a bunch of idiots. How many movies can you say that about?

"Wanna hear about our specials? We don't have any!"

A dark, strange and excellent prequel to the Twin Peaks series

[Red-Barracuda · 10/10 · 17 August 2014]

It seems that when this prequel to the 'Twin Peaks' TV series was released in 1992 it didn't go down very well either critically or commercially. The series had been cancelled after season two a year beforehand so 'Twin Peaks' fever had died down considerably. Yet it seems that many of the fans of the show were disappointed with Fire Walk With Me anyway and I am guessing it was primarily for three reasons (1) it was tonally very different from the show - weirder, much harsher and more confrontationally disturbing, (2) it did not feature many of the loved characters from the series and (3) it did not resolve the cliff-hanger posed at the end of season two, instead it went back in time and detailed the last few days in the life of Laura Palmer. The latter reason was simply because director/creator David Lynch was most interested in the character of Laura Palmer and he wished to revisit her over and above anything else. Consequently, it's hardly surprising that the film only focuses on characters that were vital to Laura's last seven days, while the nature and reasons for her murder mean that the material was always going to be a lot more intense and disturbing. It's probably no coincidence that this film begins with a TV being smashed - from the outset it's clear that this is to be a definite re-imagining of the Twin Peaks universe.

I myself am a big fan of Fire Walk With Me. It's much stranger than the series as well as being tougher. The freedoms of cinema allowed for this and TV was a great deal more restrictive content-wise back in the early 90's. On many occasions it goes very left-field and certainly does not explain all events in a neatly presented fashion. In this sense it ties in with much of Lynch's other film output. The weird moments are often very well executed and once more show the spectacular imagination of the man. But the bizarre aspects never take away from the basic story-line which does follow a linear path more or less. The story is at its heart a very dark and depressing one, after all it is largely about the systematic incestual sexual abuse of a young woman and her subsequent downward spiral. The surreal presentation adds considerable horror genre elements but distances us from the realistic true horror of the abuse. At this juncture it should be said that the acting of Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer) and Ray Wise (Leyland Palmer) is extremely impressive and a considerable step-up from the TV show. Lee is in most scenes and has a very wide range of emotions to convey, while Wise is simply terrifying as her abusive father.

I am pleased that Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me has been enjoying something of a critical reassessment in recent years. It's so far on from Peaks mania that I think it's much easier to now see more clearly the strengths of this film. It fits into the filmography of Lynch extremely well and in many ways is one of his most interesting. As a finale to the 'Twin Peaks' phenomena it actually feels very apt and was a very satisfying way to finish things off.

Moria Kelly was wrong...

[Freedomisanillusion · 6/10 · 22 September 2005]

Moria Kelly said in an interview that if you loved the TV show then you would love the prequel. I disagree quite vehemently.

I really really like Twin Peaks, the TV series. I'm not one of these fanatics who knows every word Ben Horne uttered in episode 1.3 or anything, but I really enjoy the show.

I really enjoy the show, mainly for its quirkiness. It's an oddball, funny and intriguing show, at times terrifying (altogther now: BOB) and often very engrossing. It had a light feel to it: the situations never got so bad that there wasn't time for a light quip or two.

FIRE WALK WITH ME fails to capture the same mood as the series, despite having the same characters.

Sheryl Lee is very good as Laura, the girl who is so cursed that she can only save herself by dying to escape the clutches of BOB and her abusive father, and she manages to convey Laura so well that we feel every punch she does.

The rest of the cast are a let-down. Moira Kelly, while good, just isn't the right replacement for Lara Flynn Boyle. The first half hour, involving Teresa Banks does nothing but delay the movie: it sheds no new light on the situation.

And the characters have become caricatures. Bobby is a pain, James is under utilised, as is Donna and Shelly and Norma are barely in it. Jacques is given too big a role and Dale Cooper is a completely different character: sullen and morose as opposed to the screwball Coop we know from the series.

When we finally get into the swing of things, the last days of Laura's life are dreadful to watch, because we know how it ends. Her death scene is brutal and disturbing, as is most of what leads up to it.

Ray Wise is terrifying as Leleand, Frank Silva less so than in the series, although he still manages to elicit a chill down my spine.

It's also quite irritating being back in Twin PEaks and only dealing with the characters we don;t care for. I miss Sheriff Truman, Lucy, Josie, Audrey and Pete. I miss the mystery of the series, and the oddball humour. Instead we have a washed out wasteland of confusing scenes and nightmarish imagery.

I would be giving this movie a generous 5, if it weren't for the beautiful scene of, after her death, Laura in the waiting room, as she discovers she's been accepted into the White Lodge and is being guided by the angels. It's still disturbing, seeing as she's dead now, but I found that scene tender and moving.

Other than that, it is a disappointment coming to it after such an excellent series.

6/10

David Lynch Masterpiece

[Gav-7 · 10/10 · 7 January 2020]

Frightening and surreal film about incest. Sheryl Lee is astonishingly brilliant in this movie , she should be cast more often in films. I would consider it to be one of Lynch's best.

Good, but seems like you shouldn't watch before seeing the series

[BrandtSponseller · 7/10 · 6 March 2005]

A prequel to the Twin Peaks television series, Fire Walk with Me begins after Teresa Banks has been murdered. Chester Desmond (Chris Isaak) and Sam Stanley (Kiefer Sutherland), two FBI agents, have been called in to investigate. After forty minutes or so, this story line is dropped and we meet Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), an oddly adult high school student who was homecoming queen and who looks like a stereotypically cute, perky, "middle" American living behind a proverbial white picket fence. But Palmer has a dark side, which Fire Walk with Me takes a great deal of time exploring.

I probably shouldn't be writing this review yet. I'm just now getting around to the Twin Peaks universe, and I haven't yet watched the television series except for "Chapter 1" from the first season. I'll likely completely change this review at some point in the future, but I'm posting it now in the hope that it might help someone decide whether the film is worth viewing for them, or at least it might provide some interesting comments.

If one wants to avoid spoilers and have a better chance of understanding this film, it seems like maybe Fire Walk with Me should not be viewed until one has seen the television series. Here's why I watched it first: I've long been a fan of Lynch's films. When Twin Peaks appeared on television in the early 1990s, I was working as a musician on a cruise ship and did not have the opportunity to watch it. I knew there was a film made, but I didn't realize it was made after the series, and I did not want to watch it without being able to also experience the television show. Cut to 2002. The first season is finally released on DVD, so I figure here's my chance to watch it. The beginning of the first episode says, "Previously on Twin Peaks". Previously? I'm pretty obsessive about watching series in order, so "previously" bothered me a lot. I ran to the Internet to look for Twin Peaks chronologies, and I find out that there is a two-hour pilot episode--often those are simply thought of as feature-length films, so I figured that Fire Walk with Me is it.

I finally picked up Fire Walk with Me yesterday. Before watching I double-checked just enough of the DVD box synopsis to be sure that I should watch it first. It said "prequel", so I went ahead, figuring that "prequel" just meant it was the "initial film". I know prequels are usually made later in film series, but even when that's the case, I more often than not watch prequels "in order" before the other films on subsequent viewings. Besides, I thought that "prequel" was likely just being used in a different way here. When you're a fan of someone like David Lynch, you often expect almost everything they do to be deeply enigmatic.

So is the film worth watching under circumstances similar to mine? Well, I did enjoy it, but primarily for the reason that attracts me to Lynch--I'm a big fan of surrealism, absurdism, etc. Fire Walk with Me is nothing if not bizarre. However, unlike other Lynch films there seems to be an absence of clues within the film to figure out Fire Walk with Me. I'm only assuming that the series will provide more clues. I may be wrong. But at this point, I'm not about to read others' interpretations of the film, as I'm worried they might give further spoilers for the show. As I've mentioned, I've only watched the first episode of the television series so far. I finally figured out that the two-hour pilot episode is something different, and not included on the Season 1 disc, but it's too late now. I assumed that the "Previously on Twin Peaks" intro was just Lynch being bizarre again, but unfortunately that's not the case. While we're at it, I have to note that based on the first episode, the series isn't doing much for me. It's far too normal and non-Lynchian (of course not helped by the fact that Lynch doesn't direct most of the episodes). I'm not a fan of soap opera-like, realist drama, and so far that's what the series primarily seems to be.

As always, Fire Walk with Me has Lynch's extreme attention to and manipulation of cinematic details. For example, there is a sequence of long, odd silence (in the police station), there is a production design-related instance of weird, minute "clues" in the appearance of a woman in a pink dress, characters are directed to use strange speech mannerisms, there is an unsettling combination of eras in the setting (cars of different eras, characters acting liking combinations of 50s and 80s youths per popular depictions, etc.), there are peculiar layers of information, such as the cowboy/redneck bar band playing uncharacteristic music, and of course there are cutaways to bizarre people, saying and doing bizarre things--such as the midget talking about Formica tables and saying "Garmonbozia". I love all of that stuff.

I was a bit disappointed that the early part of the film was abandoned, as the investigative story was good, but the material about Laura Palmer was intriguing in its own way. Her behavior, and the behavior of those around her, became increasingly more abnormal and fascinating as the film went on, so that worked for me well. But I still don't know how to interpret the film, and I hope the series doesn't put me off. I also hope the series is eventually released in its entirety (including the two-hour episodes at the beginnings of seasons--it was a crime to leave that off of Season 1). Fire Walk with Me is worth watching for fans of Lynch weirdness, but I can't really recommend watching the film before watching the series.

The last 7 dark days of the Homecoming Queen's Life...

[lostintwinpeaks · 8/10 · 21 June 2002]

Bob, Agent Cooper, Laura Palmer, Teresa Banks, The Man From Another Place, etc...

Welcome back to David Lynch's offbeat town of TWIN PEAKS.

Much darker than the TV series, this film was in part meant to answer many previously unanswered questions, but if anything - in typical Lynch fashion - it tangles things even further, and confuses matters all round.

Lynch apparently shot more than 5 hours of the feature, and as much of these deleted/extended/alternative scenes are still missing, the movie we're left with feels rather bare and rushed.

The performances are excellent, and the movie is visually stunning, and as usual the plot - while confusing - is intense and riveting.

But alas it could have been so so so much more.... (sighs)

Fan who is conflicted

[csbob447 · 6/10 · 27 September 2018]

I am honestly conflicted with this movie. As a Twin Peaks fan, I was excited to see this movie, especially after finishing the third/Return/limited season of the show. I knew that the movie was a prequel to the original series about the last few days of Laura's life, but I thought there would have been more honestly besides that.

There are two ways to watch this movie, either as a fan of Twin Peaks or as an outsider looking in. As an outsider looking in, I can't really recommend watching this before seeing the show. It certainly would make sense given that there really isn't much new to be added, but at the same time the movie is relying on the fact that you have seen the show before watching the movie, with how little characterization there is with Dale Cooper, the relationship with Leo and Shelly, the Black Lodge, and the final episode of the original run of the show. And as a fan of the show, there isn't much to really take away from this outside of the original show, outside of seeing Laura before she died (BTW Sheryl Lee is great in this) and more info about the Black Lodge, as well as info to the the Return and how the film bridged both series together like what happened at the last episode of the second season and with David Bowie's character, Philip Jeffries (Bowie is really weird in this movie BTW). We don't really learn anything new that the show already told us before besides providing a visual aid, albeit a more graphic visual aid, and the stuff with Chester Desmond and the investigation of Teresa Banks feels completely pointless because, again, we don't learn anything new that wasn't in the show.

So just judging the movie on it's own...well it's a mixed bag. The acting is all around pretty good, even with the more goofier acting, but given that it's true to the show it's excusable. Sheryl Lee is great in this as she really does shine more as Laura in this film than in the show, returning actors like Ray Wise, Kyle MacLachlan, Dana Ashbrook, James Marshall (even though James is the worst!), and Harry Dean Stanton are pretty great, and Moria Kelly fills in Donna's shoes nicely. The weak link in this film is Chris Isaak as Chester Desmond who is just so dull in this film, although he doesn't really get a lot to in this role. This movie is also peak Lynch at his oddest and most horrifying. The movie can be interpreted as repression and the torment and mental strains of abuse on a victim. So many scenes here are truly unnerving and uncomfortable to watch, it isn't an easy watch, which is definitely a high compliment considering that's what the movie goes for. And without the restrictions of TV ratings, the movie is uncompromising with the sex and violence, feeling like this is truly what Twin Peaks should have been if it wasn't on TV or produced by HBO. Unfortunately the structure is off. The first act of the film is about the investigation of Teresa Banks that is absolutely unnecessary and goes nowhere. Scenes often end with fade to black cuts, like it's going to cut to a commercial break, that just feels weird and unnecessary. There are characters that feel absolutely pointless to the narrative of the film. The soundtrack by Angelo Badalamenti is great. Often eerie and unnerving, but also beautiful and soothing, much like the show's score as well. It enhances the film while also feeling like it can fit along with the same universe as Twin Peaks (Badalamenti did score the show BTW), as well as a good listen on it's own. Also the minimalist reworking of Laura's Theme is fantastic!

Honestly the big issue with the film is like a lot of shows that are adapted to the big screen, it is made for the fans more than anyone new. There's not a lot of characters that are fleshed out because they are in the show. And with Fire Walks with Me, I'd have a hard time seeing anyone who has not seen the show be confused as hell after seeing the film. It works well as watching this movie after finishing the original series, but again it's a prequel and not much new is learned from the film. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. There's a lot good here, but overall I didn't get much out of it besides an unnerving experience. Which could be applauded as a success, but with how murky the end result is, it's just hard to recommend the finished product.

But seriously watch the original run of Twin Peaks it's absolutely fantastic!

A boring and pointless mess

[naferrazza · 2/10 · 10 September 2016]

Twin Peaks has long since been at the top of my list of shows to watch if given the opportunity. And when that opportunity arose, I was very impressed with what I saw. The bizarre mix of humour and surrealism makes for one of the best and most underrated TV shows I've ever had the privilege to watch. I'd heard the film wasn't the best, but I've enjoyed a lot of films that have received harsh criticism, and I expected this one to be another one of those.

The first half an hour of this film was exactly what I was hoping for in this film. Even with his drastically reduced role, Kyle MacLachlan still manages to steal the screen for the few scenes he appears. And when he steps on the other side of the camera, David Lynch is always fun to watch as well. Add in a brief appearance by David Bowie to round things off, as well as a few Black Lodge residents, both new and old, and it's quite fun to watch. If the film had continued to be what this first act is, I'd have been impressed. Sadly, that's not the case.

The remainder of the film follows Laura Palmer's life before her murder. Sure, it's interesting seeing the events that led to Laura's death, and Sheryl Lee does a great job in the role, but it's all so pointless. The film shows us nothing we hadn't already learned from the series. It's an hour and a half of the same stuff, but somehow presented in a far less interesting way than what the TV show managed to do.

While not the worst film I've ever seen, it's possibly the most boring. It doesn't even feel like Twin Peaks. That playful and mysterious tone from the show is gone and replaced with, well, nothing really. It's like it doesn't even have a tone. It's just so dull.

I wouldn't say it does anything to detract from the TV series, but it certainly doesn't add anything to it. If you want to see the whole Twin Peaks saga, then go ahead and watch it. Just be warned that your in for quite a boring two hours and fifteen minutes. I can almost guarantee that halfway through the film you'll find yourself pulling out your phone to check Facebook or whatever. This film just doesn't do enough to keep the audience's attention.

I was hoping for answers to some of those unresolved plot threads from the TV series, but they certainly aren't here. I don't think a single plot thread from the show gets resolved by this film. Not one.

I think what bugs me most though is all the deleted scenes I keep reading about. It seems like this film got the Batman v. Superman treatment. A ridiculously long A+ film was shot, before having all the good bits cut out, leaving us with the lackluster bare bones of what we could have had. Sadly, a lot of the scenes that ended up on the cutting room floor sound like they could have made this movie into the kind of film I could have enjoyed. Instead, we just get two hours of Laura Palmer running around town high on drugs and screaming at shadows.

Oh, and if for some reason you've not seen the TV series and you're planning to watch this, don't. While being too much of a rehash of the same old stuff to appeal to fans of the show, it somehow still manages to be too continuity heavy to appeal to new viewers. The whole things really just a boring and pointless mess.

Here's hoping the 2017 TV series can do better, because a show like Twin Peaks deserves it.