Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

Devil's Advocates #26

by Lindsay Hallam

When David Lynch's film Twin Fire Walk with Me, a prequel to the television series Twin Peaks, premiered at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival it was met with outright hostility. Subsequent reviews from critics were almost unanimously negative, and many fans of the show felt betrayed, as their beloved town was suddenly revealed as a personal hell. Yet in the years since the film's release, there has begun to be a gradual wave of reappraisal and appreciation, one that accelerated with the broadcast of Twin The Return in 2017. What has been central to this reevaluation is the realization that what Lynch had created was not a parody of soap opera and detective television but a horror movie.

In this Devil's Advocate, Lindsay Hallam argues that the horror genre aids Lynch's purpose in presenting the protagonist Laura Palmer's subjective experience leading to her death as the incorporation of horror tropes actually leads to a more accurate representation of a victim's suffering and confusion. She goes on to explore how the film was an attempt by Lynch to take back ownership of the material and to examine the initial reaction and subsequent reevaluation of the film, as well as the paratexts that link to it and the influence that Fire Walk with Me now has on contemporary film and across popular culture.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Horror

134 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2020

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific in depth insight into a bona fide horror masterclass, the excoriating portrayal of a profoundly emotionally disturbing tragedy.
Hallam's study is a thorough guide to what is happening on the surface (and the slightly elsewhere) of the film, while connecting pertinent threads, mainly from the original series but also, handily, from other various books and extras, culminating with an impressively succinct precis of The Return.

[Rob Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic study of an initially maligned, but re-appraised horror classic. Hallam looks at why the film is best read as horror, how it works as a film about dramatising trauma, and how it fits into the wider Twin Peaks universe.

[Eleanore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I love all three aspects of Twin Peaks (the original series, the film, and the new event series), it's still Fire Walk With Me that affects me the most. Fortunately, this series has come a long way since the days of its entrant for Texas Chain Saw Massacre being THE single worst copy edited book I've yet read, and -- though there are still a few errors throughout -- and this is a wonderful in-depth examination of what makes the film so stirring, confrontational, and masterful.

[Horror DNA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working on the assumption – and though a fairly obvious one to make, it is still an assumption – that anyone buying a Devil’s Advocates guide will be the converted waiting to be preached to, University of East London’s Lindsay Hallam has created a clear, approachable and thoughtful guide to Fire Walk With Me, its challenges and its place within the Twin Peaks universe. Quality and clarity of argument, presentation and research make this a good companion for fans and the yet-to-be-converted to explore the story, imagery, characters and, particularly impressively, the complexity of the soundscape that made Twin Peaks such a compelling mystery.

You can read Rachel's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Nicolò Grasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific essay-book in the "Devil's Advocates" series, exploring the complexities of FWWM and the depth of Laura Palmer's character and Lynch's storytelling. A must-read for fans of the film!

[Erna · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a good book. god, i miss twin peaks. so much.

[Will · Rating 2 out of 5]

There wasn't much to offer for someone as immersed in this film/universe as myself (and, in some ways, it ruined some of the magic through overexplication, despite that being so against Lynch's MO), but it did direct me towards a few primary sources/quotes that I hadn't seen before and I must commend Hallam (who has given some great contributions to film criticism especially on boutique Blu-rays) for treating this film with such love and care. I can easily recommend this to anyone who is still trying to make sense of this film and the robust machinations of its heart.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific study of an almost endlessly rewarding film, full of little moments of wonderful insight.

[eLwYcKe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This incredible film is at last getting the praise that is long overdue.
I remember seeing it when it was first released and not understanding why it was so loathed. It is a horror/surrealist masterpiece that isn't about the cosy little town of Twin Peaks, it's about the last seven days of Laura Palmer.
So this book is a perfect companion through the labyrinth. It references the film's relationship to all three TV series which is useful and fascinating. But like most Twin Peaks and David Lynch fans you don't want to know the answers to all these mysteries of love...that would spoil it all!
So, perhaps, in the end, the only thing you need to know is.....Laura is the one.

[greatgrayprairie · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the characters are “the main character” and so approach viewing as if watching an all-star game. I like the all-star game at Deer Meadow, Washington and Fargo, North Dakota better than I like it at Twin Peaks, Washington. I think that Lil is Sarah Palmer and The Jumping Man is the Log Lady. Everybody has such terrific manners until opportunity to become rabid comes along. It’s nice to know that all the characters had access to all the other characters due to “colonial” type open support systems. But as it turned out many characters were rendered maladaptive when this happened. The logging industry culture was “bright and cheerful” on the whole.

[Ian Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the writer says, Fire Walk With Me is an underrated film that, thankfully, is getting a much deserved renaissance. But this isn't just about praise, this little book (with surprisingly a lot of content) looks into FWWM's methods, its place, its effects, the film's place in the horror genre, and with The Return, its influence on this series and the whole Twin Peaks multiverse.
The writing is clear and is sprinkled with a good array of quotes and references, and is a fine addition to my Twin Peaks shelf in the Bookhouse.

[Joel Kramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this brief exploration of the film "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me", Hallam argues that the movie was initially panned because it was misunderstood. Instead of being viewed through the lens of the TV show's police procedural/nighttime soap opera, the movie takes on a deeper meaning when viewed as a horror movie, deliberately darker than the show because it's a completely different genre. Although short, this covers a lot of material, and makes some really interesting arguments and comparisons to Lynch's other works.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book on my favorite Lynch film. This is like a Cliff notes for Twin Peaks fan. Loved this film when it came out and still do. Powerful film for sexual abuse survivors.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong argument for FWWM, and the Twin Peaks universe in general, in all its ambiguities and contradictions.

[Ciah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura is the one 3 Great dissection of a masterpiece of a film, as well as Twin Peaks as a whole and everything surrounding it.

[Andy]

I'll have a review of this in an online venue, coming soon.