David Lynch Directing Style Explained — How Does Lynch Make Us Dream?

David Lynch Directing Style — a dissection of seven different filmmaking elements that make up that singular and disturbing style called Lynchian.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to the work of David Lynch
01:10 - Who is David Lynch?
04:46 - Story
07:08 - Production Design
11:04 - Color
13:45 - Cinematography
19:41 - Editing
23:05 - Sound Design
29:50 - Music
33:38 - Takeaways

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DAVID LYNCH DIRECTING STYLE

There is no filmmaker quite like David Lynch (Mulholland Drive, Lost Highway, Twin Peaks, Eraserhead). An artist in every sense of the word, David Lynch makes movies that are equal parts evocative and abstract. He thrives on mystery, and his films are intuitive puzzles that are difficult to solve but spark our imaginations nonetheless. In this video, we will sink into the depths of David Lynch’s unbounded consciousness by examining seven different aspects of his directing style. We can’t solve these puzzles, but we aim to help you solve them for yourself.

DAVID LYNCH EXPLAINED

At their core, much of what we see in David Lynch movies is centered on duality. This concept is expressed in both the worlds of his films and also within the characters themselves. The world is both violent and beautiful, strange and familiar. We also see many examples of doppelgangers where this division between good and evil can be literally manifested.

There are many ways to interpret David Lynch films, but there are more objective techniques we can point to that might help us understand them a bit more. David Lynch is a big fan of mystery in film — questions that get posed that activate the audience’s imagination. He calls this “dreaming.” So, what about the David Lynch directing style makes the audience dream? We found two things in particular: fragmentation and abstraction.

Fragmentation means that there are gaps in the story and things left unexplained. For example, in Lost Highway, we are presented with two realities in which Renee and Alice are the same person, or Alice is merely a projection. It is up to the individual audience members to figure it out for themselves. The other technique is abstraction, where themes or concepts are represented in abstract forms. For example, Jack Fisk who portrayed The Man in the Planet from Eraserhead claims that the levers his character operates are meant to represent karma.

As David Lynch himself explains, these movies aren’t meant to be understood but felt. This makes sense when you know that his creative process follows a similar route. Lynch “feels” his way through the writing, directing, photographing, sound designing, and scoring — following his intuition instead of any sense of strict logic. Dreams are subjective, and the dreaming we do watching David Lynch movies is equally so.

#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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♬ SONGS USED:

Songs by Angelo Badalamenti:
“Twin Peaks Theme”
“Harold’s Theme”
“Haunted & Heartbreaking”
“Mysterioso”
“Silencio”
“The Pink Room”
“Diane and Camilla”
“Audrey’s Dance”
“Accidental / Farewell Theme”
“Rita Walks / Sunset Blvd / Aunt Ruth”
“Fred’s World”
“Mulholland Drive”
“Dark Mood Woods”
“Rose’s Theme”
“Red Bats With Teeth”
“Frank Returns”
“Diner”
“Blue Velvet Main Theme”
“Solo Percussion 1”
“Police”
“Mysteries of Love”
“Mulholland Drive Main Theme”
“Dance of the Dream Man”
“Laura Palmer’s Theme”
“Mr. Roque / Betty’s Theme”

Songs by David Lynch:
“Ghost of Love”
“Woods Variation”
“Call From The Past”
“Wishin’ Well”
“Good Day Today”

Songs by Julee Cruise:
“The Nightingale”
“The World Spins”
“Questions In A World of Blue”

Songs by Nine Inch Nails:
"The Perfect Drug"
“She’s Gone Away”

Songs by John Morris:
“The Elephant Man Theme”
“Pantomime”

“I’m Deranged” - David Bowie
“Jazz Suite No. 2” - Shostakovich
“Blue Velvet” - Lana Del Rey
“Dune Main Title” - Brian Eno
“Blue Frank” - Angelo Badalamenti & David Lynch
“Apple of Sodom” - Marilyn Manson
“Driver Down” - Trent Reznor
“Perdita” - Rubber City
“Hollywood Sunset” - Barry Adamson
“Up In Flames” - Koko Taylor
“I Love How You Love Me” - The Paris Sisters
“Rammstein” - Rammstein
“Slaughterhouse” - Powermad
“I Am (Old School Hip Hop Beat)” - BluntedBeetz
“True Love’s Flame” - David Lynch and Jack Cruz

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[StudioBinder]

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to the work of David Lynch
01:10 - Who is David Lynch?
04:46 - Story
07:08 - Production Design
11:04 - Color
13:45 - Cinematography
19:41 - Editing
23:05 - Sound Design
29:50 - Music
33:38 - Takeaways

[channelname]

*To the team of StudioBinder, whoever does the voiceover, his voice became synonyms to me with art and film, and vice versa, whenever I read something on art analysis, his voice is what I hear in my head*

[pollitorsiones]

I think no one recreates the mood of dreaming and daydreaming as good as David Lynch, such a peculiar and necessary director

[maxtubb]

David Lynch's Eraserhead from 1977 is probably one of my favorite movies of all time.

That film is truly a surreal masterpiece from start to finish and the sound design and atmosphere of that film is beyond great.

[austinx]

I'm personally not the biggest Lynch fan. But I'm so glad he's around because I appreciate his originality and lack of fear to be different and bold. I respect the heck out of his work.

[idoling_yt]

Even though I already knew I adored David Lynch’s work immensely, I greatly appreciated this review of all the specific traits that make something “Lynchian.”

And while I knew my preferences ~vibe with Lynch’s approach to filmmaking, I didn’t realize just how many things he does that I was into before I became familiar with his style. There were things mentioned here that I used to do when editing screen captures for fan art pieces many years ago. These days I make far fewer edits, but even some of those unintentionally mimic Lynch’s style. Just goes to show why I enjoy his work so much!

Thank you for this overview. :)

[BathroomTile]

He's a true visionary director. He has his own, very peculiar vision, and this vision comes to him from his subconsious and simply moves him deeply with no underlying meanign necessary. When you're watching one of his movies you really get the sense that you're watching an artist pour his soul into his work with little interference from outside forces. A lot of movies nowadays are made by committee and are tempered with by producers and studio execs who are trying to create a product. It feels like a formula is being followed, but the formula is actually a frankenstein's monster of 100 different formulas being combined to appeal to as broad an audience as possible. It's so refreshing, and personally moving for me, to see a Lynch movie and to just feel that drive, that passion, that mystery, even if you don't know what it means. You just know that it's honest, it's not trying to trick you or to emulate something, it's just pure, personal vision put on screen.

[maxtubb]

David Lynch will always be one of my all-time favorite film directors because of how unique and creative (sometimes disturbing) his films are truly unique and no one else can copy his style.

[eroscreatives]

Congratulations to all who helped put this wonderful analysis of Lynch's art together. A masterpiece about the work of one of the greatest film makers ever. This needs to be shown in every film school!

[olik]

The most important thing about David Lynch's stuff (especially Twin Peaks) is that I never doubt that everything is happening for a reason- I don't know most of those reasons and they don't match real life.. but they are there and there are rules to everything.

[bobwiegers]

Dune 1984 is such a train wreck and yet it is engrossing, compelling and unforgettable. The mark of true greatness that a filmmakers worst film, that he's publicly trashed, can be so memorable.

[radiofriendly]

Wow, the clip at 16:25 is so good for artists to consider. "If everything is clear... that's what it is. That's all it is."

[tedlewis]

My favorite artist in any medium ever. Saw "The Elephant Man" when I was 11. Can still remember watching the opening sequence with the elephants and my jaw dropping to the floor. "Movies can do THIS?!?!" I didn't really know what "this" was but I LOVED IT!!! <3 (And by the way, I was watching it in a dilapidated 1928 movie palace with--wait for it--a red curtain that opened to reveal the screen. You're welcome!)

[hvitekristesdod]

My favourite filmmaker!! Thank you 🙏🙏🙏

The thing about him for me is that he puts a lot of weird things on screen, but he does them so well with such consistent meaning behind them that he builds a kind of trust with the audience, so that when even when you don’t know what it means, you know that it means something. Nothing he does ever feels like it wasn’t pondered and thought about deeply before being filmed.

[junikyou]

Other directors that StudioBinder can consider covering:
- Tim Burton
- Michael Mann
- Terrence Malick
- Guillermo Del Toro

[mazaroth]

I love Lynch's work, thanks for this video. One thing I love about his work is how every element from color, sound, cinematography, light, etc form a cohesive unity to create fragmentation. I think thats the best way to describe his films is that they are meant to be felt or experienced. His work makes me feel so much.

[prancey]

This was a great video. The writers know the director well enough to avoid interpretation while helping us gain insight into process and technique. Well done

[kenallen]

great overview of Lynch's style. in 2024, i finally watched Twin Peaks: The Return, and it was fulfilling both bringing back the TW stories and characters, and also in bringing back what all we associate with David Lynch.

[spinsandneedles]

You hit the eraser on the head! Thank you for presenting David's work as a director and leaving room to dream.

[Entertainment]

David Lynch is one of my fav. director of all time. Top 5 dead or alive!