Title – Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)

Director – David Lynch (Inland Empire)

Cast – Sheryl Lee, Ray Wise, David Bowie, Chris Isaak, David Lynch

Plot – The events leading up to the TV show Twin Peaks are explored here in the final days of high school girl Laura Palmer (Lee).

“Bob, I want all my Garmonbozia”

Review by Eddie on 30/09/2020

A feature length film that divided critics upon release but has since gained a significant following and reevaluation as some type of obscure classic, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks based Fire Walk with Me remains an enigma of a film from the erratic filmmaker, that is one for the fans of the show and those only.

Finally allowing long-time viewers of the show that took over the TV space in the early 90’s a chance to witness the final days and lead up to the fateful demise of high school student Laura Palmer, a mystery that will ever go down as one of the most talked about in television history, Fire plays an important part in the puzzle that is Twin Peaks but it also loses the shows oddball humor along the way and its array of detestable characters doesn’t make for what you would call enjoyable viewing.

Ramping up the more horrific nature of Twin Peaks dark underbelly and giving us only brief moments with the shows heavyweights like Agent Cooper and MVP The Log Lady, Fire is a depraved type of Lynch outing that would mean very little to those viewing the story with no context behind its basing and in highlighting Laura Palmer more than ever before we come to learn that the figure behind much of the goings on in the show is not in fact a very likable presence.

Dealing with some highly odd and unnerving situations (as well as a healthy drug habit and more than a few romantic pathways) Palmer doesn’t exactly have a great life but Lynch fails to make Sheryl Lee’s high school sweet heart and town favorite someone we enjoy spending time with as the films initial interest in solving the murder of Teresa Banks instead turns to a final days account of Palmer’s life that includes creepy run ins with her father, long-winded nightmarish nights out on the town and dates with her highly detestable on and off again boyfriend Bobby.

The film works best when Lynch shy’s away from Palmer and takes us to his fever dream like looks at situations that are clearly not of this world and much like the show before it, Fire can provide some gripping viewing straight out of the “I can’t believe what I’m seeing” book of film-making that is undoubtedly a large reason behind why so many called the film out as a disappointment when it first premiered at its now infamous Cannes Film Festival screening.

At the end of the day Fire is a dark and gloomy affair that is no where near as good as the best of its TV show counterpart but it still offers further insights into the strange world Lynch created that is sure to appease those seeking more time in this mysterious universe.

Final Say – 

A film for die-hard Twin Peaks fans only, Fire Walk with Me ramps up the darkness to near unbearable levels as Lynch takes his audience and the characters he created to some odd, depressing and mostly forgettable directions.

2 fingernails out of 5