Why ‘Inland Empire’ is David Lynch’s Most Underrated Masterpiece

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  • Laura Dern Gives Everything in ‘Inland Empire’
  • How Does David Lynch Achieve the Feeling of ‘Inland Empire’?

David Lynch’s last movie, “Inland Empire,” is an incredibly unsettling film you should not miss. This final piece in his remarkable cinematic career stands out even among his intriguing works, often overlooked for its impressive feats over the extensive three-hour runtime. There’s nothing quite like “Inland Empire,” as it intensifies the eeriness present in his earlier films to levels unmatched by many directors for nearly two decades. Lynch was a true master of ambiguity, making the unexplained feel absolutely essential.

In a less conventional narrative style, “Inland Empire” by David Lynch is more about evoking haunting, dreamlike moments rather than a traditional plotline. It leaves a lasting impression in one’s subconscious and raises more questions than it answers. This film showcases Lynch’s preference for ambiguity, with the storyline often defying logic or reason, leaving viewers to piece together fragments of the narrative for their own mental satisfaction.

Remarkably, after Lynch completed his work on no more feature films, there was a peculiar, Lynch-like quality to this ending that seemed fitting for one of the most innovative minds in cinema today. What sets Inland Empire apart? Why is it often overlooked as a masterpiece? How does it manage to create such unsettling atmospheres? Here’s a breakdown of its unique appeal.

‘Inland Empire’ Evokes a Feeling of Pure Dread

Films that aim to provoke feelings of apprehension or dread often fall short because they tend to adhere to a conventional narrative structure. However, David Lynch disregards this, from the enigmatic “Eraserhead” right up to “Inland Empire”. His work is so effective at inducing fear because it seamlessly delves into the realm of the unknown, similar to a dream where events occur without explanation. While certain elements may hint that this isn’t real life, they don’t disrupt the experience. It serves as an overlooked conclusion to Lynch’s oeuvre, possibly one of his most challenging and difficult to classify works.

In contrast to David Lynch’s other films like “Lost Highway” or “Mulholland Drive,” where he immerses viewers deeply into his constructed fantasies, “Inland Empire” is more disjointed and wandering, moving from one location to another without a clear structure. Unlike the focused narrative with Patricia Arquette sharing significant screen time with Bill Pullman and her fantasy counterpart in two distinct halves, “Inland Empire” boasts a large cast that appears only once and then disappears without a trace. The lack of any discernible storyline is what makes “Inland Empire” so unsettling.

Laura Dern Gives Everything in ‘Inland Empire’

Laura Dern’s outstanding performance is crucial to the success of Lynch’s magnum opus. The film’s eeriness stems from her earnest portrayal, even in scenes where the movie itself becomes absurdly illogical at certain pivotal moments. In essence, the plot revolves around Dern as she navigates a bizarre nightmare, while engaging in an affair with her co-star on a film set. Character backgrounds are sparsely detailed, and in classic Lynch style, this lack of detail doesn’t detract from the overall impact. It’s almost unnecessary.

In his career, Lynch has consistently excelled at creating films with enigmatic undertones, and his latest work, “Inland Empire“, epitomizes this trend. This movie, in particular, showcases an unusual level of inconsistency that might be challenging for some viewers. It’s not hard to understand why some people may find it too perplexing. With little to grasp onto, it can result in a chilly viewing experience. However, this disconnection is precisely what the movie aims to evoke; it creates a sense of detachment while subtly questioning reality through its fractured narrative. Even Lynch’s earlier works, such as “Eraserhead“, offered occasional moments of clarity. With “Inland Empire“, Lynch’s filmmaking style has evolved to such an extent that he seems to disregard conventional storytelling techniques entirely, which is what makes him a truly exceptional director.

How Does David Lynch Achieve the Feeling of ‘Inland Empire’?

The enchantment of “Inland Empire” lies predominantly in David Lynch’s direction, characterized by rough, hand-held shots and intimate close-ups of reactions. The deliberately low-quality visuals of the film further enhance its realistic portrayal within the dreamlike narrative. The fuzzy audio quality and abrupt transitions between scenes give “Inland Empire” a unique character that sets it apart among Lynch’s works, yet it often receives less recognition than films like “Blue Velvet” or “Mulholland Drive.” Despite its lack of explicit explanations, the visual metaphors in this film are not overly complex to comprehend.

Instead of Inland Empire conveying its terror through metaphors, it delves profoundly into your unconscious mind, gradually growing more bizarre as time passes. It’s Lynch’s longest film, and enduring such disquiet for three hours is no small feat. Lynch offers very little to the audience yet demands everything, but this exchange doesn’t feel unbalanced. Rather than relying on frightening visuals, Lynch imbues our minds with his creations, understanding that withholding information is one of his most potent tools.

The loss of one of cinema’s visionaries is undeniable with the demise of David Lynch. While many of his films veer away from traditional storytelling, “Inland Empire” stands alone in its unique category. It transcends the boundaries of conventional filmmaking, serving more as a thought-provoking work of art than a movie. Lynch skillfully explores the realm of cinematic terror without relying on shock tactics or sudden jumpscares. Instead, he gradually immerses us into a nightmare that hints at our dreamlike state without any assurance of awakening. It is widely regarded as the film to watch to grasp Lynch’s distinctive cinematic approach and serves as an understated, overlooked finale to his extraordinary body of work. Stream “Inland Empire” on Max and the Criterion Channel.

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2025-01-20 04:03