I’ll be honest with you. I avoided watching Eraserhead for years because everyone said it was too weird. When I finally watched it in my late twenties, it messed with my head for days.
This 1977 film from director David Lynch stars Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, and Judith Anna Roberts.
It runs about 89 minutes and carries an R rating. But that rating doesn’t prepare you for what you’re about to see.
I’m writing this review because Eraserhead is one of those films you can’t unsee.
Let me tell you why this movie still disturbs people nearly 50 years later.
Storyline Overview
Eraserhead follows Henry Spencer through a nightmare version of parenthood, where nothing makes sense and everything feels wrong.
Henry Spencer lives in a decaying industrial wasteland. His girlfriend Mary tells him they have a baby. The baby isn’t normal. It looks like something that shouldn’t be alive.
Mary can’t handle the constant crying and leaves. Henry is alone with this thing that won’t stop screaming.
The film explores fear of parenthood and isolation. Lynch doesn’t give you answers. Is this real? Is Henry losing his mind? The film makes you sit with that discomfort.
Characters and Performances
The actors commit fully to this bizarre world, playing everything completely straight despite the surreal situations.
Henry Spencer (Jack Nance)
Henry wanders through his life like he’s already dead. He’s passive. Things happen to him. He rarely makes decisions.
Jack Nance plays Henry with this hollow stare. His face barely moves. But you see the fear in his eyes. He’s drowning and can’t scream for help.
Henry’s eraserhead haircut became iconic. It stands straight up, defying gravity. It makes him look alien, disconnected from normal life.
Nance makes you feel Henry’s paralysis. This is a man who has given up but keeps going through the motions. The performance is subtle and deeply unsettling.
Mary X (Charlotte Stewart)
Mary is as damaged as Henry. She can’t handle the baby. Her breakdown feels real. She’s not a bad person. She’s just completely overwhelmed.
Charlotte Stewart brings this fragile energy to Mary. She’s barely holding it together from the start. When she finally breaks, it feels inevitable.
Mary’s family dinner scene is one of the most uncomfortable sequences in film. Stewart plays every awkward moment perfectly. You feel her desperate need to escape.
Supporting Cast
Judith Anna Roberts plays the Lady in the Radiator. She sings this strange song about heaven. Her puffy cheeks and gentle voice create this false sense of comfort.
The Sexy Neighbor across the hall offers Henry something different. But even that encounter feels empty and disturbing.
The supporting characters feel like fragments of Henry’s mind. They don’t seem fully real. They’re projections of his fears and desires.
Animation and Visuals
Lynch shot Eraserhead in black and white. The film looks like a nightmare you can’t wake up from.
The industrial setting dominates everything. Smoke, steam, and darkness fill the screen. Buildings look abandoned. Pipes leak. Everything is falling apart.
Henry’s apartment is claustrophobic. Small rooms. Dark corners. You feel trapped with him. The radiator becomes this mysterious portal to somewhere else.
The baby is the most disturbing visual element. It looks like a premature animal, wrapped in bandages. Its eyes move.
It breathes. But it shouldn’t exist. Lynch never explained how he created it, and the mystery makes it more frightening.
The lighting creates deep shadows. You can’t see everything clearly. Things hide in the darkness. The visual style makes you anxious without understanding why.
Music and Soundtrack
The sound design in Eraserhead is as important as the visuals. Maybe more important.
Alan Splet handled the sound design. The film uses industrial noises as music. Machines humming. Steam hissing. Metal grinding.
The baby’s crying cuts through everything. It’s not a normal baby cry. It sounds like pain and anger mixed together.
The Lady in the Radiator sings “In Heaven.” The song is innocent but creepy. It promises peace while everything around Henry falls apart.
The audio makes you feel Henry’s mental state. The constant noise represents his inability to think clearly or find peace.
Critical Reception
Eraserhead confused people when it came out. It still confuses people today. Critics didn’t know how to categorize it. Audiences weren’t sure if they loved it or hated it.
Professional Critics
Roger Ebert gave the film three stars. He acknowledged its power but found it emotionally cold. He respected Lynch’s vision while admitting the film isn’t for everyone.
Critics at the time didn’t know what to make of it. Some called it brilliant. Others called it unwatchable. The film divided opinions sharply.
Over time, critics recognized Eraserhead as a masterpiece of surreal cinema. It influenced countless filmmakers. The visual style and sound design set new standards for experimental film.
Audience Reviews
Midnight movie crowds loved Eraserhead. It became a cult classic through word of mouth. People kept coming back to figure it out.
Some viewers find it pretentious. They think Lynch is being weird for the sake of being weird. The lack of clear meaning frustrates them.
Others see it as a breakthrough. The film captures anxiety in ways normal movies can’t. It makes them feel something most films miss.
Overall Consensus
Most agree the film is technically brilliant. The cinematography is striking. The sound design is innovative. Lynch created something genuinely original.
But many viewers bounce off it completely. The pacing is slow. The story is confusing. The images are disturbing. It’s not entertainment in a traditional sense.
Eraserhead demands your attention. It doesn’t care if you like it. That attitude works for some people. For others, it’s off-putting.
Final Rating
Professional critics rate Eraserhead between 7 to 9 out of 10. Audience scores vary wildly, from 3 to 10 depending on tolerance for experimental film.
I’m giving it an 8.5 out of 10. It’s not an easy watch. The slow pace tests your patience. But the vision is so complete, so fully realized, that you can’t deny its power.
This film works best for viewers who enjoy challenging cinema. Horror fans who want something different will appreciate it.
Art film lovers will find plenty to analyze. If you want a straightforward story, this will frustrate you.
Conclusion
Eraserhead is unlike anything mainstream studios would touch. It doesn’t comfort you. It disturbs you.
The film handles anxiety and fear with unflinching honesty. The filmmaking is some of the most innovative work in American independent cinema.
I’ve watched Eraserhead four times now. Each time, it affects me differently. That’s rare for any movie.
You can find it on various streaming platforms and physical media. Give it a watch. Sit with it afterward. You might understand your own fears a little better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Eraserhead appropriate for young children?
Eraserhead is rated R and absolutely not for kids. The disturbing imagery, sexual content, and psychological horror make it unsuitable for anyone under 17. Even many adults find it too intense.
Do I need to understand surrealism to enjoy Eraserhead?
Not at all. The film works on an emotional level more than an intellectual one. You’ll feel what Lynch wants you to feel even if you can’t explain what everything means.
Is Eraserhead based on a true story?
No, Eraserhead is not based on real events. However, Lynch drew from his own experiences living in a dangerous Philadelphia neighborhood and his fears about becoming a father.
Where can I watch Eraserhead?
Eraserhead is available on The Criterion Channel, can be rented on various platforms, and is available on Blu ray. The Criterion Collection release has the best picture and sound quality.
What is the main message of Eraserhead?
The film explores fear of parenthood and responsibility. It shows how overwhelming life can feel when you’re trapped in situations you can’t control. There’s no single correct interpretation.
