Sophia_McManus Reviews

Blue Velvet (1986)

Intriguing and superbly crafted film

[10/10 · 6 September 2007]

David Lynch's 1986 cult classic thriller could easily be the 1980s answer to Hitchcock's Psycho. Sure enough, both films redefined the thriller genre and caused and outpour of controversy upon their release. And both films hold up superbly years after there release, none have aged.

Blue Velvet is perhaps one of the most iconic, analyzed films of the eighties. And it is one of the few films to get away with gratuitous sexuality and extremely violent content. It escaped the trap of being considered a marginal art house cult, and escaped being labeled a forgotten success…it has become a highly regarded masterpiece, and is widely seen as Lynch's best film. The performances are incredible, and theirs an evil charm that Dennis Hopper has that no other actor could fake or fill quite as effortlessly...its almost scary.

Some people have knocked Blue Velvet for its violent content, however (like Psycho, once again), it has escaped this tag and people can see that the violence is essential to the plot. Blue Velvet is one of my favourite movies of all time, despite the fact it took me three viewings just to realize how phenomenal and genius this film really is.

Mysteries of Love (2002 Video)

Excellent insight on the making of a classic film

[9/10 · 6 September 2007]

Excellently made documentary on the classic 1986 thriller,Blue Velvet. Featuring cast interviews from Kyle MacLachlin, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper and Laura Dern, as well as producers etc. Its just a shame, and probably the only detractor, that the director behind this gem, David Lynch, didn't participate in the new documentary. Instead, they show archive footage of older interviews on the film.

The documentary analyzes the impact, production, inception and background to the film and crossover to in-depth interviews with cast and crew-members with excellent insight. Good viewing for a die-hard Blue Velvet fan, like myself!