Plot: What’s it about?
The films of David Lynch are, well, unique to say the least. Likely you’ll either like them or loathe them, but somehow I seem to find myself in the middle. On one hand we’ve got some of his classics like Blue Velvet or Lost Highway, but he’s oddly known for a two season TV show that aired back in the early 90’s. That show, of course, is Twin Peaks. If you’re old enough to remember “who killed Laura Palmer” then congratulations – you’re most likely 40 years old (or older)! Kidding aside, though, the show was critically-acclaimed even though the masses really had no idea what they were watching. It ran two seasons and with the obligatory film serving as a prequel, we’ve got…this. What is this? Let’s dive deep into the world of David Lynch and see if we can make sense of…anything.
We meet FBI agent Chester Desmond (Chris Isaac) who’s trying to track down the murder of Theresa Banks (Pamela Gidley). At his side is Sam (Kiefer Sutherland). A clue is found, a small piece of paper with a single letter buried into her fingernail. The duo follow their leads where they encounter Carl (Harry Dean Stanton). We then meet a familiar face in Agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) who’s having a rather interesting encounter with Phillip Jeffries (David Bowie). Cooper receives notice that Chester Diamond has disappeared which leads to the investigation of Theresa. This only serves to establish how Cooper became involved in the case. But we also meet Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) and some friends: Donna (Moria Kelly), James (James Marshall) and Bobby (Dana Ashbrook).
If you’re confused, don’t worry. It’s par for the course in a David Lynch film. Sometimes you have to simply enjoy the ride. I often think what the actors are thinking and if they truly “get” their parts or how they play into the bigger picture. I have to assume some are as lost as we are. Initially rejected by fans and critics alike, this film has gained some appreciation over the years. Why the hate? I can only assume that it’s because it wasn’t the TV show. Then again fans of Lynch are pretty brutal. Taking into account that I wasn’t really ever a big fan of the TV show, I guess I didn’t get all the hate. Then again I didn’t get what I was watching half the time, either. The film came out at a time when prequels weren’t all the rage, so I suppose in that regard Lynch could be considered a trendsetter. Or, you know, just plain weird. Any way you cut it, what’s done is done and Criterion’s released this on 4K. The question you have to ask yourself is…is it worth it?
Video: How’s it look?
Criterion’s 4K discs are, by and large, second to none. Given the lengths they (and other studios) go to with some of these restorations, it’s hard to imagine them looking anything other than pristine. David Lynch’s films often use color in a most interesting way and that’s illustrated here. The new HEVC 4K image offers us a bit more color, depth and detail than the Blu-ray that came out several years ago, but don’t read anything into that – they both look stellar. However, for anyone wanting/needing the best-looking version of this film need look no further.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The same DTS HD Master Audio mix as well as the original 2.0 mix are included here. Angelo Badalamenti’s score and musical numbers have been given a proper range and thus, giving us that strange “Lynch-like” effect that only I know what I’m talking about. The addition of a Dolby Atmos track would have done nothing to this, so it was a good move to stick with the DTS Master Audio track. Vocals are rock solid, surrounds are used with great impact and anyone wanting to hear this in its most pristine form needs to sit back and relax and enjoy.
Supplements: What are the extras?
If you own Criterion’s Blu-ray, there’s nothing new in the supplemental department with this 4K version. What’s included is nice, to be sure, but something new would have been appreciated.
- The Missing Pieces – also originally included in the CBS box set, here are ninety minutes of deleted or extended scenes from Fire Walk With Me. Lynch has mentioned numerous times in interviews that these scenes do have importance towards the third season and entire series overall. I typically have trouble watching the deleted scenes on films due to my assumption that they were deleted for a reason. In this case, it just feels like an extra hour and a half of strange Lynch magic. More Bowie, more Agent Cooper, more strange images that may or may not have significance. Then there are also some images that bear a lot of significance and were cut out. Fans of the series should at the very least watch the last ten minutes of this feature to gain additional closure on Season Two.
- Sheryl Lee – a fantastic new interview recorded in Los Angeles in 2017 for this release with the beloved actress who played Laura Palmer. She delves into her experiences on the film, how she received the job, and how much she loves David Lynch and his vision.
- Angelo Badalamenti – another great interview. This interview kicks off with one of the best stories imaginable involving an encounter he had with Paul McCartney. Unreal. After that, the rest of the interview with the iconic composer is truly fantastic including how David Lynch coached him as he composed the theme. One of the best interviews ever conducted by Criterion. Angelo is one of the most important film composers and one of the youngest looking 80 year olds alive today. Do not skip this feature.
- Actor’s Discussion – This feature was originally featured in the CBS released Entire Mystery box set. This is a good reminiscing by David Lynch, Sheryl Lee, Grace Zabriskie, and Ray Wise. While an enjoyable feature, it does not contain a ton of additional information.
- Illustrated Booklet – Excerpts from an interview with Lynch from Lynch on Lynch, a 1997 book edited by filmmaker and writer Chris Rodley.
The Bottom Line
David Lynch’s films are divisive, there’s no denying that. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me was the movie that fans of the show were waiting for and three decades later it still manages to deliver. Criterion’s 4K disc doesn’t offer much over its Blu-ray counterpart other than improved visuals. If that’s important to you then pick this up, otherwise stick with what you’ve got.
