Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

General: A very intriguing and twisted tale of despair and abuse. Having just finished my first-ever watch of the original Twin Peaks series, I knew not to expect a continuation in the film. It was interesting to hear just how hated this movie was upon its release, while I found it to be bold and daring, turning everything we think Twin Peaks is on its head. Maybe it’s because I know there’s more coming. Regardless, the prequel film plays with the elements and world of Twin Peaks in a totally unexpected way and is essential viewing to get the whole story.

10 out of 10.

The following portion of the review contains full spoilers for the series and film.

In Twin Peaks, we are the outsider. The town has existed before us and could long after. The unique cast of characters all mourn the death of a close friend. A daughter; a lover. But what made Laura so beloved?

In Twin Peaks, we see the town through the eyes of Dale Cooper. Essentially, we are him. We enter this idiosyncratic town and immediately get sucked in. We feel at home. The coffee is hot and the pie is to die for. The people are lovely, despite their mourning. Twin Peaks makes you feel like a tourist: someone just passing through and, when Laura’s killer is discovered and subsequently dealt with, we, like Coop, can’t help but want to stay. We want to feel safe and at home in this bizarre town that seems to be filled with so many wonderful people.

Fire Walk With Me turns you on its head. In fact, it turns you around and bashes your head into the ground.

In Fire Walk With Me, we are no longer the outsider. Not because we’ve been accustomed to the town for the last two seasons of Lynch and Frost’s fantastic show, but because we are no longer Coop: we are Laura. We now see Twin Peaks, the town, through the eyes of the woman everyone mourns. We see its dark underbelly. We knew Leland was possessed: we didn’t know he was abusive towards Laura (and the question still stands on how much of it was BoB and how much was Leland himself). We knew Bobby had a shady past, we didn’t know he was a killer. We knew Donna was tormented by Laura’s death more than anyone (save her parents), we didn’t know that Laura saved her from going down the same path. As she enters the Black Lodge, she cries tears of happiness. Could it be that even the infinite, obscure life in the Black Lodge is better than the living Hell she’s been experiencing?

In Fire Walk With Me, we see the town through the eyes of Laura Palmer. It’s a brutal town, one full of despair. We see many of the inhabitants of this town for who they really are. Fire Walk With Me changes the way I see Twin Peaks, and makes me want to go back and rewatch the series with the new light. I’m sure as I watch more, especially The Return, even more will be flipped on its head.

But for now, looking at Fire Walk With Me and still letting it steep in my mind, as well as looking back at the series as a whole, we go to Twin Peaks looking for great coffee and delicious pie.

But all we find is a pile of garmonbozia.