Wild At Heart

David Lynch
1990

Its not exactly like I've ever seen a bad David Lynch film, but I do think "Wild At Heart" may be his weakest. Lynch excels at displaying the seedy underbelly of a supposedly civilized society, and the subsequent consequences that come with unmasking . Each time the rock is turned over we are witness to the hidden vagaries of human nature. "Twin Peaks" and "Blue Velvet" showed a Pandora's box of depraved activity hidden just beneath the surface of suburban middle America, while "Mulholland Drive" illuminated the rotten-core nightmare of Hollywood's elite. Perhaps the biggest failure of 1990's Palme d'Or winner is that Lynch presents us a world where the characters are no good from the get go.

The story seems simple enough, Lula and Sailor are in love, but the little lady's mother does not approve the rough-edged beau. Of course Mom can't exactly control the whims of her daughter's heart so she puts a contract on Sailor's head. Meanwhile, Sailor breaks his parole by crossing state lines with Lula in tow. Thus Lynch gives us two young lovers, wild by nature, let loose in a dangerous and often senselessly violent world.

This freakshow of white-trash rape victims, snake skin bedecked Elivs impersonators, (literally) filthy mouthed ex-marines, and serial killers is pure pulp fantasy, low on subtlety and high on madness. Lynch's signature directorial style is at work, albeit more exaggerated, lending the film an air of high melodrama and kitsch. Its still a good picture, but the classic Lynchian moral contrast is painfully apparent.

One thing's for sure though: Nicolas Cage can dance like a madman.

Review by Brett A. Scieszka