Eraserhead is a 1977 American independent surrealist body horror film written, directed, produced, and edited by David Lynch. Lynch also created its score and sound design, which included pieces by a variety of other musicians. Shot in black and white, it was Lynch’s first feature-length effort following several short films. The film is infamous not only for its surreal and disturbing imagery but also for its exceptionally arduous and unconventional production. Filmed over five years with a shoestring budget, the making of Eraserhead is a testament to Lynch’s singular vision and perseverance.
Eraserhead began filming in 1972 and wasn’t completed until 1977. This extended timeline was primarily due to severe funding difficulties. The film was shot in a fragmented, on-again, off-again manner. Scenes were filmed whenever money became available, often requiring sets to be re-erected after being torn down for other projects at the American Film Institute (AFI), which initially granted Lynch some funding.
Lynch famously lived for a significant period (reportedly over a year) in Henry Spencer’s apartment set, within the disused stables at the AFI campus where much of the film was shot. This allowed him to work whenever inspiration struck and saved on accommodation costs.
Lead actor Jack Nance maintained Henry’s iconic, gravity-defying hairstyle throughout the entire five-year production, always ready for filming. His wife at the time, Catherine E. Coulson (later known as the “Log Lady” from Twin Peaks), was the one who regularly styled it.
One of the most talked-about elements of Eraserhead is the grotesque, deformed baby. Lynch went to extreme lengths to keep its creation a secret, even blindfolding projectionists when screening dailies that featured the prop. Theories about the baby’s composition have ranged from a real embalmed animal fetus (most commonly a calf or lamb) to an elaborately constructed puppet. Lynch has always been evasive, adding to the mystique. A mock funeral was even held for “Spike” (the baby’s nickname) at the wrap party.
Lynch has stated that his miserable time living in a violent and grimy Philadelphia heavily influenced the film's industrial, dystopian aesthetic. While Lynch has often been coy about the film’s meaning, it is widely interpreted as a reflection of his anxieties about fatherhood, particularly given that his daughter was born with club feet around the time of production.
Lynch believes his films should be “experienced” rather than “understood” in a traditional sense, with their meaning coming from the viewer’s subconscious. He has referred to Eraserhead as his most spiritual film, citing a single, undisclosed Bible verse as its inspiration.
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