MR Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

...and after the show, here's the infamous Twin Peaks movie!
Considered a classic of cinema history by some, despised by others, they can only all agree that it is quite a confusing movie - in true Lynch fashion.

Originally, with all the planned script in the picture, lasting as long as 5 hours of runtime, it was then cut down to a more acceptable ~2 hours run (which for the time was quite a lot already if you ask me..).

David Lynch's most experimental feature according to his own words, make way for....

Movie: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Directed by David Lynch
Release date 1992
Genre Supernatural/Mystery/Thriller/Drama Horror film
Country USA

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is a continuation of the Twin Peaks TV series.

Neither a true prequel nor an actual sequel, in the purest sense of the meaning.
The story itself is clearly a "prequel", taking place before the pilot of the show, but watching it first will spoil the entire premise of the on-going mystery of the show (for its 1st season at least).
So, be warned, Spoilers ahoy!

Anyway, it is more of a follow-up as far as the exploration of the town of Twin Peaks go, as well as the themes touched, etc.

The story starts with David Lynch's own character, Gordon Cole at the FBI's Headquarters.
Gordon calls Special Agent Chester Desmond (Chris Isaak) about the murder of a Teresa Banks in Deer Meadow, Washington.
After getting a new partner called Sam Stanley (Kiefer Sutherland), both get a special briefing through clues, because Gordon speaks really loud and likes to use codes.

A Blue Rose case. There's been several missing Agents already on similar cases.
Our Agents follow the investigation which leads them to a mysterious ring in a trailer park.... which in returns makes Agent Desmond disappear into thin air!

The following day, we're back with Kyle MacLachlan as Special Agent Dale Cooper (or rather, introduced to Cooper long before he actually arrived in Twin Peaks).
One of the missing Agents - Agent Jeffires, David Bowie(!!) in a random cameo - makes a reappearance to warn Cooper at the FBI HQ. Coop goes to talk with Gordon about his recent dreams and this previous vision. He takes upon this investigation himself. The murder first and now these visions, Coop believes the killer will strike again and they must be prepared.

A year later, we're now in the little town of Twin Peaks.
Following the life of 17 years old High School prom queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) in her very discontinued life.
You see, Laura Palmer has various faces.
Laura juggles different lives she's been going through, two boyfriends, and other strange relationships.

And that is not all!
She has been pursued since her childhood by a man from her nightmares, the one they call BOB.

And it's not over yet!
Her father Leland (Ray Wise) has been acting quite strangely as of late.
And there's also all those dreams of a Black Lodge and a ring...

It's the story of Twin Peaks "before the show".
A very dark tale, fans will notice the absence of humor unlike the show.

The movie came out in 1992, a year after the series ended actually.
Almost all the cast returned for this film, with the only exceptions being Lara Flynn Boyle who didn't reprise her role of Donna Hayward because rumors say she was asking for way too much money, after being quite difficult during the 2nd season of the show, so she was simply recast with Moira Kelly instead who did quite a good job of keeping the character the same. And the lovely Sherilyn Fenn as Audrey Horne , due to conflitcs with her shedules, but she was easily taken out of the story, Audrey having no real connection to Laura Palmer anyhow.

At first glance or view, it might seem like a mess of a movie.
Because it had been cut down from its original 5-hour first cut into such a shorter production.
Various scenes that featured returning TV characters were cut down entirely.
It also requires a familiarity with the universe of Twin Peaks. (for example, Annie appears at somepoint, out of nowhere, murdered, in a vision without any explanation whatsoever)

The movie is full of symbolism and dream imagery. The line between the everyday life and the Red Room/the dream world blurs as we follow Laura in her downward spiral which will result in her death.

It is also quite constructed like a serial, movie or not.
The movie is clearly divided into two overall distinct parts/chapters, each with their own segments/episodes.
The whole end of the movie being the story of the final seven days of Laura Palmer.

Because it was clearly aimed for watchers of the show, it expects you to to know the characters.
The scene of the "clues" briefing with Lil the Dancer is a perfect example of the way fans used to read into every detail of Twin Peaks episode.

Anyways, it's a great dark horror movie, a different kind of horror than the way people are used to with Hollywood.
A beautiful picture, lots of red tones and unique images.
And let's not forget Angelo Badalamenti’s amazing score. Compared to the show, the music here sounds more like a cacophony of lights and sound.

Overall, it is a much darker, bleaker and more brutal vision of the world of Twin Peaks.
It seems that more new mysteries are created than resolved.
It's a very strange experience, unlike any other.
Dark, brutal, probably too consuming for the general public which explains the way it was received originally. One of most disturbing movies you'll see.
What is real or not... the line blurs... blurs... blurs..

Be warned though, do not expect something closer to the TV show.
When it once was originally presented at the Cannes Festival in 1992, the movie was received with booing from the audience (that's just rude!). The negative reception came from a confused audience no doubt.
It's the kind of story that will follow you, making you think and interpret on your own.
The kind of plot that only benefits from repeated viewings. For fans of Twin Peaks and David Lynch mostly.

It's funny to see how more than a decade later, being finally released over there, the movie finally found a commercial success in Japan - which resulted in the heavily TP-inspired Deadly Premonition.

David Lynch originally planned various movies an eventual series of films, "Fire Walk with Me" being the first one because it resolved all the details taking place before the series.

The movie is also quite fast paced, things seem to move forward quickly and jumping around story points here and there, you can feel the heavy cuts specially in the early portions of the movie.
Fans are still waiting for the promised director's cut since the laserdiscs-era. (it seems one was prepared and ready, around 3 hours 30-long)

A great movie.. that is, with prior knowledge of Twin Peaks.

I give it, for Twin Peaks connoisseurs:

 2.5 / 3 Necronomicons (must watch!)

For average Joe:

  0.5 / 3 Necronomicons (run from it!)