Directed by
David Lynch
Made by
518 Media
The film opens with a nostalgic atmosphere, as an old vinyl spins “the longest-running radio play in history,” accompanied by indistinct, filtered voices resonating through time. The scene transitions into a dimly lit hotel hallway where two figures, a man and a woman, their faces obscured, stumble into a hotel room. Speaking in Polish, the man instructs the woman to undress, an act she performs with visible reluctance. When he queries her on the nature of whores, she straightforwardly replies, “they fuck,” suggesting her role as a prostitute.
In a different hotel room, a woman with raven hair, referred to as the Lost Girl (Karolina Gruszka), is seen crying while fixated on a television program. The show features a surreal sitcom about anthropomorphic rabbits engaged in absurd conversations, interrupted by a nonsensical laugh track. As the male rabbit reveals a secret to the female, a mysterious knock at the door changes the scene, captivating all present. The male rabbit ventures out, leaving it ambiguous what lies beyond.
The narrative shifts to an elderly woman with prominent eyes, portrayed by Grace Zabriskie, who ambles through a quaint suburban neighborhood, disoriented. Approaching the strikingly lavish home of Nikki Grace (Laura Dern), a celebrated actress, she introduces herself as the new neighbor and expresses her desire to meet. The elderly woman mentions Nikki’s recent audition for a film, On High in Blue Tomorrows, insisting she got the role, much to Nikki’s confusion. The neighbor then recounts a harrowing tale about a boy who opened a door and glimpsed another world—ushering in an evil reflection—and shares another variation of the story involving a girl lost in an alley. When pressed about the film’s plot, Nikki states there is no murder involved, prompting the neighbor, increasingly erratic, to nearly lose her sense of time. As the conversation takes a surreal turn, time shifts, revealing Nikki receiving news of her successful audition.
After her casting, Nikki appears alongside her co-star Devon Berk (played by Justin Theroux) on The Marilyn Levins Show, a talk show reminiscent of The View. Here, they dismiss rumors of an on-set romance, with Devon’s entourage cautioning him about Nikki being “hands-off” due to her powerful husband. As the story progresses, Nikki and Devon gather on the studio floor with director Kingsley Stewart (Jeremy Irons) and his assistant Freddie Howard (Harold Dean Stanton) for a crucial script read. An unsettling incident disrupts their rehearsal, prompting Devon to investigate an eerie noise, only to find nothing amiss. Kingsley reluctantly divulges that their film is a remake of an unfinished Polish film, rumored to be cursed, raising questions about the blending of reality and narrative.
Throughout the film, interspersed are dramatic images: a woman severely wounded discusses vengeance with a police officer, hints of a deeply unsettling previous life echo through the narrative, and cut scenes reveal the macabre existence of prostitutes in early 20th Century Poland. In modern Poland, shadows of mafia dealings arise, indicative of a world intertwined with hidden threats.
One day, while grocery shopping, Nikki stumbles upon cryptic graffiti reading “Axx o Nn,” leading her to a door that ushers her into the depths of a movie studio. Here, engulfed by whispers, she races through a maze of her own memories, catching sight of herself and her colleagues from earlier in the production. Realization dawns as Nikki comprehends her own presence as an intruder; she evades detection beneath the facade of her character’s home. Crossing into this realm transforms the setting, revealing a surreal party populated by prostitutes dancing to 60’s tunes, where Nikki immerses herself in their narratives—smoking, dressing provocatively, and adopting their identities as if compelled by a magnetic force.
As the story spirals, it becomes apparent that Nikki embodies Susan Blue, her character, who resides in a suburban haven with her spouse, Smithy. At a garden gathering, Susan confronts two of the prostitutes from earlier, querying them with a question that they themselves posed earlier, “look at me, and tell me if you’ve seen me before.” In a twist of fate, she encounters a bizarre scene where a man holds a light bulb in his mouth, triggering instinctual fear, prompting her to wield a screwdriver as a weapon of escape.
With great urgency, Susan navigates Hollywood Boulevard, fleeing a relentless woman wielding the screwdriver. Attempting to evade the danger by hiding in a nightclub, she encounters a dubious figure known only as Mr. K (Erik Crary) and opens up in a raw, unfiltered monologue, revealing the scars of her childhood traumas. This series of events culminates tragically as she is stabbed by the harbinger of her fears, collapsing in a shop front as she is taunted by a trio of homeless figures, their imaginations running wild. Here, she draws her final breaths, imbibing a tapestry of sorrow before succumbing, leading to the moment where Kingsley calls “cut,” unveiling the orchestrated chaos of this performance.
Returning to her essence, Nikki finds herself wandering the streets back to an old hotel, where fate intertwines with her earlier encounters. Down a shadowy corridor, she confronts “The Phantom,” whom she ultimately shoots, distorting his visage into a horrific semblance of her own face, before morphing into a grotesque form. The scene shifts back to the rabbits, faced once more with the enigmatic door.
In a powerful conclusion, Nikki liberates the Lost Girl from her symbolic imprisonment, showering her with light and warmth. The Lost Girl, now reclaimed as the authentic Susan Blue, embarks on her journey home to the San Fernando Valley—joyfully reuniting with her husband and child. The film winds down, showcasing Nikki amidst a group of dancing prostitutes, merging into another vibrant gathering, encapsulated by the sounds of Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman,” while two lumberjacks signify the cyclical nature of life and performance.
Opening Scene
The film begins with a nostalgic atmosphere, showcasing an old vinyl spinning 'the longest-running radio play in history.' Indistinct voices resonate through time, setting the tone for the surreal journey that is to unfold.
Mysterious Encounter
In a dimly lit hotel hallway, a man and a woman stumble into a hotel room. The man speaks to the woman in Polish, urging her to undress, revealing her role in this dark narrative as a prostitute, hinting at the complex themes of identity and exploitation.
The Lost Girl's Melancholy
A woman known as the Lost Girl is seen crying in a separate hotel room, captivated by a surreal television program filled with anthropomorphic rabbits. The bizarre sitcom captivates her, but a mysterious knock at the door interrupts her moment, symbolizing a turn in her narrative.
Nikki's Neighborhood Encounter
An elderly woman wanders through a suburban neighborhood until she approaches the lavish home of actress Nikki Grace. Introducing herself as the new neighbor, she cryptically discusses Nikki's audition for a film, sowing seeds of confusion and dread about the nature of reality.
Audition Success
After the unsettling encounter with the neighbor, the scene shifts to Nikki receiving news about her successful audition. This moment marks a turning point, propelling her deeper into the world of film where the line between fiction and reality begins to blur.
Talk Show Appearance
Nikki makes an appearance on *The Marilyn Levins Show* with her co-star Devon Berk. As they navigate rumors of an on-set romance, the tension builds, hinting at the complications of their upcoming production and the darker undertones surrounding it.
Script Read Disruption
During a crucial script reading with director Kingsley Stewart, an unsettling noise interrupts the session. This eerie incident serves as a foreshadowing of the impending chaos, leading to revelations about the film being a remake of a cursed Polish project.
Cryptic Graffiti Encounter
While grocery shopping, Nikki discovers cryptic graffiti that reads 'Axx o Nn.' Intrigued, she follows its lead to a mysterious door, opening a pathway into a disturbing realm that intertwines her reality with her character's narrative.
Entering the Movie Studio
Nikki finds herself inside a chaotic movie studio filled with echoes of her past and present. As she races through this surreal maze, she confronts her own identity as an intruder within the narratives she inhabits, heightening her sense of confusion.
Confrontation at the Party
Nikki is drawn into a surreal party among prostitutes dancing to 60's tunes. As she immerses herself in their stories, she adopts their identities, becoming lost in the magnetic nature of their lives, which symbolizes her entrapment in a twisted alternate reality.
Susan Blue's Reality
Nikki embodies Susan Blue, her film character, who lives a seemingly ideal suburban life. This blurring of identity culminates in a moment of dread when Susan confronts the very prostitutes that mirror her inner turmoil and fears on her journey.
Bizarre Encounter
At a garden gathering, Susan has a chilling encounter with bizarre figures and violent imagery, prompting her to flee in fear. This scene emphasizes her deep-rooted trauma, with a light bulb incident acting as a symbolic manifestation of her childhood ghosts.
Ultimate Confrontation
Susan desperately tries to escape from a threatening figure wielding a screwdriver. This moment leads to a tragic end as she is stabbed, symbolizing the final fracturing of her identity amidst the chaos of her tangled existence.
Fateful Return
In a surreal twist of fate, Nikki returns to the hotel where her earlier encounters began. She confronts 'The Phantom,' symbolizing her fears and traumas, leading to a climactic moment where she must confront her own fractured identity.
Liberation of the Lost Girl
In a powerful conclusion, Nikki manages to liberate the Lost Girl from her imprisonment, embracing her true essence as Susan Blue. This moment of light and warmth signifies a rebirth, allowing her to journey home and reconnect with her family.
Nikki Grace (Laura Dern)
Nikki Grace is a celebrated actress grappling with her identity while navigating the twisted realities of her role. As the protagonist, she embodies vulnerability and strength, caught in both her own narrative and the narratives of those around her. Her journey chronicles the struggle to break free from oppressive forces and reclaim her essence.
Lost Girl (Karolina Gruszka)
The Lost Girl represents lost innocence and the quest for identity within a fractured reality. Her melancholic fixation on a surreal television program symbolizes the longing for escape. As Nikki's parallel, her eventual liberation reflects hope and transformation amid despair.
Elderly Woman (Grace Zabriskie)
The elderly woman serves as a haunting presence in the narrative, her erratic behavior blurring the lines between reality and delusion. She embodies the memories and stories of past generations, weaving a sense of nostalgia as well as foreboding within Nikki's life.
Time period
The story weaves between modern times and echoes of the past, notably drawing on themes of trauma reminiscent of earlier decades. The chaotic events unfold in a contemporary setting, while flashbacks hint at historical struggles faced by individuals, particularly women, reflecting deeply on societal norms and expectations.
Location
Poland, San Fernando Valley, Hollywood
The film predominantly takes place in Poland, where haunting reflections of early 20th-century life reveal a world entwined with hidden threats and the lives of prostitutes. The San Fernando Valley serves as a contrasting suburban haven where Nikki attempts to reclaim her identity. Hollywood encapsulates the glitz and chaos of the film industry, representing both aspiration and despair.
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Identity
The film intricately explores themes of identity through Nikki's dual existence as both an actress and her character, Susan Blue. As she navigates her journey, her experiences morph with that of the Lost Girl, creating a tapestry of fragmented identities. The narrative questions the nature of self, performance, and the masks people wear in the pursuit of acceptance.
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Trauma
Trauma resonates throughout Nikki's experiences, from her childhood scars to the haunting memories of her interactions with other characters. Moments of violence and confusion propel her into a vortex of fear and loss, illustrating how past traumas can shape present realities. This theme emphasizes the struggle of confronting one's painful past.
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Reality vs. Performance
In this film, the line between reality and performance is blurred as characters navigate a surreal narrative. The casting of Nikki in a cursed film serves as a reflection on filmmaking itself, raising questions about the authenticity of experiences portrayed onscreen. This theme challenges viewers to consider what is constructed and what is genuine in both film and life.
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