#1. Cheap EraserheadBy RYKODISC

#1 Cheap Eraserhead Reviews

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Most have felt the surrealistic sensibility of this film. Yet, wasn't it that way with Cocteau? And, wasn't Cocteau who named a film about a painter (and himself and art in general) 'The Blood of a Poet.' So why do I say poet-filmaker? Well, in a broad sense we could say that all film is literature, but most film deals heavily with the development of plot (narrative). And what can a poet throw out? This very thing for the purposes of pursuing the freest figurations and self-expressions. Of course, when events are placed in a sequence, we can always call the cohesive (enough anyway) flow of 'events' plot. Yet, when, whether or not the 'events' have taken place on the same universe (as the prefix 'uni' implies that the various states cohere in some way and operate under the same fundamental laws) what we have is something other than narrative in a film operating as the cohesive thread. There is no getting to the bottom of this film. If an artist could 'say' or show something without doing the art, art would never be created. Anyone that has studied Shakespeare understands that ambiguity is one of the most powerful means of evoking meaning. It is the spectator who will have to untie these intricate knots. The ambiguity is then, an invitation. Perhaps the most ambiguous film yet produced is a grand triumph for the fans by virtue rather than in spite of its absolute resistance to claims of finding resolution & closure. Yet there are enough lurid parallels to invoke the spirit of an initiated viewer's 'visionary reading.' So? We provide the thread, but without the medium we wouldn't want to. I've been out on my porch thinking, 'I'm on to this Eraserhead thing now.' Then I get curious and turn on the movie only to find that my abstractions are once again blown away by the particular forms, sounds, imagery, language, in short, everything that Lynch has at his disposal (he uses it all well and considers it carefully. Man, aren't those Fats Waller organ pieces perfect!). And I think that present film-makers would do well to learn from Lynch and Cocteau as well. Let's face it: film can appeal to our senses and sensibilities in so many ways that we can be moderately 'entertained' by unambitious trash. But, as for making an art of it, the only filmmaker I can think of that consistently produced movies of this caliber is Fritz Lang. And he new well how to use image--if not surreal, certainly not ordinary. 'Video' in Latin means 'I see.' And for today's film-makers, this mostly means very mundane things. The vast majority of films being produced are hardly worth calling mediocre because it is actually disgusting that billions of dollars are being spent on them (to make and to view). Alas, people even like them. The 'video' that is 'I see with my intellect' and will reveal with imagery more akin to the the mind's eye is a rare thing to pull off. It's hard enough to find a movie with good acting and a decent plot that is not so hackneyed that I want to vomit. Though I earlier compared Cocteau to Lynch, I think Lynch has far exceeded Cocteau. As for Lynch's other films, the one most akin to this by virtue of its highly 'poetic' revelation is Inland Empire. I highly recommend it and believe that Lynch was very brave for creating a film that he knew would very likely displease even many of his fans. I recommend giving I. E. a chance. It can be painful at first, but I've learned when to watch it (it's definitely not every night, and it's far from pleasant). Everything Lynch has done (with the exception of Dune) is worth owning and watching several times a year for me. Lynch digs pretty deep into thematic explorations that sometimes span several projects, and I don't think after Blue Velvet the sadistic man ever really left his mind. I mention this because the spirit behind Eraserhead was growing from '70 (and probably before). A great treasure is the release of The Short Films of David Lynch. Whereas with Twin peaks you can see strong parallels with Blue Velvet, there's not much for Eraserhead. But the Grandmother and the Alphabet, though short, place this film in a slightly larger context.

David Lynch's Inland Empire (Limited Edition Two-Disc Set)
The Short Films of David Lynch

Eraserhead Feature

• Is it a nightmare or an actual view of a post-apocalyptic world? Set in an industrial town in which giant machines are constantly working, spewing smoke, and making noise that is inescapable, Henry Spencer lives in a building that, like all the others, appears to be abandoned. The lights flicker on and off, he has bowls of water in his dresser drawers, and for his only diversion he watches and lis

Eraserhead Overview

Is it a nightmare or an actual view of a post-apocalyptic world? Set in an industrial town in which giant machines are constantly working, spewing smoke, and making noise that is inescapable, Henry Spencer lives in a building that, like all the others, appears to be abandoned. The lights flicker on and off, he has bowls of water in his dresser drawers, and for his only diversion he watches and listens to the Lady in the Radiator sing about finding happiness in heaven. Henry has a girlfriend, Mary X, who has frequent spastic fits. Mary gives birth to Henry's child, a frightening looking mutant, which leads to the injection of all sorts of sexual imagery into the depressive and chaotic mix.


Eraserhead, Extremely Weird, but Fun... - Shane N. Sinsapaugh - NC
Although Eraserhead is a very slow movie, mostly quiet (there is dialogue, but not as much as a typical movie), and in black & white, the movie itself is extremely weird, which to me, translates as fun.

Now, for normal movie viewers, this movie would be a long, pointless bore. I showed this movie to some friends and I was banned from picking a movie to watch ever again.

But I find the movie to be great. I still have yet to figure out the plot line, but the basic overall premise is:

Henry, while on vacation from being a printer, is invited to his (ex girlfriends, one night stand? Not sure) dinner with her family. Finds out she has had a baby (well, they are not sure it is a baby) that was extremely premature. They move in together, she goes back home after being frustrated with the mutant babies cries.
Henry has an affair with his next door neighbor, and she goes on to turn out to be a whore when she comes home with another man.
Eventually, Henry cuts the babies wrappings, and turns out that the baby's wrappings were holding in its organs.

That is the basic premise, but full of weird and odd occurences, such as: A singing deformed lady who lives in Henry's radiator, stomping mutant sperms/fetuses, Henry's head falling off and being picked up by a kid who takes it to an eraser making factory, and plenty of screen time for the crying mutant baby.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who wishes to experience an extremely odd film. Anyone who is looking for a regular good movie would probably be bored, or shocked by this movie.