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Eraserhead

  • 19771977
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
114K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,366
626
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Jack Nance in Eraserhead (1977)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer0:47
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Fantasy
  • Horror

Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.

IMDb RATING
7.3/10
114K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,366
626
  • Director
    • David Lynch
  • Writer
    • David Lynch
  • Stars
    • Jack Nance
    • Charlotte Stewart
    • Allen Joseph
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Lynch
  • Writer
    • David Lynch
  • Stars
    • Jack Nance
    • Charlotte Stewart
    • Allen Joseph
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 692User reviews
    • 163Critic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:47
    Official Trailer

    Photos111

    Jack Nance in Eraserhead (1977)
    Jack Fisk in Eraserhead (1977)
    Laurel Near in Eraserhead (1977)
    Jack Nance in Eraserhead (1977)
    Eraserhead (1977)
    Eraserhead (1977)
    Eraserhead (1977)
    Eraserhead (1977)
    Eraserhead (1977)
    Jack Nance in Eraserhead (1977)
    Allen Joseph, Jack Nance, and Charlotte Stewart in Eraserhead (1977)
    Jack Nance in Eraserhead (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Nance
    Jack Nance
    • Henry Spenceras Henry Spencer
    Charlotte Stewart
    Charlotte Stewart
    • Mary Xas Mary X
    Allen Joseph
    Allen Joseph
    • Mr. Xas Mr. X
    Jeanne Bates
    Jeanne Bates
    • Mrs. Xas Mrs. X
    Judith Roberts
    Judith Roberts
    • Beautiful Girl Across the Hallas Beautiful Girl Across the Hall
    • (as Judith Anna Roberts)
    Laurel Near
    Laurel Near
    • Lady in the Radiatoras Lady in the Radiator
    V. Phipps-Wilson
    • Landlady (long version)as Landlady (long version)
    Jack Fisk
    Jack Fisk
    • Man in the Planetas Man in the Planet
    Jean Lange
    • Grandmotheras Grandmother
    Thomas Coulson
    • The Boyas The Boy
    John Monez
    • Bumas Bum
    Darwin Joston
    Darwin Joston
    • Paulas Paul
    T. Max Graham
    • The Bossas The Boss
    • (as Neil Moran)
    Hal Landon Jr.
    Hal Landon Jr.
    • Pencil Machine Operatoras Pencil Machine Operator
    Jennifer Lynch
    Jennifer Lynch
    • Little Girlas Little Girl
    Brad Keeler
    • Little Boyas Little Boy
    Peggy Lynch
    • Person Digging in the Alley (long version)as Person Digging in the Alley (long version)
    Doddie Keeler
    • Person Digging in the Alley (long version)as Person Digging in the Alley (long version)
    • Director
      • David Lynch
    • Writer
      • David Lynch
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A film that defies conventional logic and storytelling, fueled by its dark nightmarish atmosphere and compellingly disturbing visuals. Henry Spencer is a hapless factory worker on his vacation when he finds out he's the father of a hideously deformed baby. Now living with his unhappy, malcontent girlfriend, the child cries day and night, driving Henry and his girlfriend to near insanity. —Jacob Samuelson
    • surrealism
    • psychosis
    • nightmare
    • deformed baby
    • experimental film
    • 164 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Be warned. The nightmare has not gone away...
    • Genres
      • Fantasy
      • Horror
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Stanley Kubrick made the cast of The Shining (1980) watch this film (among others) to get in the mood for filming a horror picture.
    • Goofs
      Henry takes off the wrong shoe/sock to dry off.
    • Quotes

      Lady in the Radiator: [singing] In Heaven, everything is fine. In Heaven, everything is fine. In Heaven, everything is fine. You've got your good things. And I've got mine. In Heaven, everything is fine. In Heaven, everything is fine. In Heaven, everything is fine. You've got your good things. And you've got mine. In Heaven, everything is fine.

    • Crazy credits
      There are no opening credits, just a long, tilted close-up of the face of Jack Nance.
    • Alternate versions
      First DVD edition was printed in open matte format (1:1.33)
    • Connections
      Edited into The History of the Hands (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      In Heaven
      (uncredited)

      Music by Peter Ivers

      Lyrics by David Lynch

    User reviews692

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Ask six people exactly what Eraserhead is about, and you will get six different answers
    I sometimes dream of waking to a completely dark world, a world with no sunlight and minimal artificial light. My vision is blurred, but there is nothing to see. The streets are virtually empty, and my friends and family are lifeless; sitting, standing or even walking, but with nothing to do or say, and nowhere to go. No questions are asked because there is nothing to learn, nothing is discussed because nothing is interesting. And it is this dismal reality I am faced with, only partially aware that there is anything better.

    The existence I dream of is somewhat reminiscent of the world of Henry Spencer, the main character in Eraserhead, who becomes father to a hideously deformed baby. That's what the film is about at face value, but the very style in which it is portrayed is the real beauty of it. The setting and scenery makes the film one of the most desperately depressing I have ever seen. And although Henry seems to be devoid of any spark of personality, we can't help but sympathise with him throughout the film.

    Similar to my dream, the only form of light is artificial, the streets are virtually empty, and the only person in the entire film who has any personality is the father-in-law, and the only thing he has to talk about is his poor health. He also seems to be the only one with any link to better times. ("I've watched this city turn from pastures to the hell-hole it is now.") The city they live in is completely industrialized, and the only plant life seen is dead, and in a pile of soil on Henry's bedside table.

    Some have suggested it is based after a nuclear holocaust, but nothing is explained to any conclusion. One of the beauties of this film is that it practically begs the viewer to decide for themselves what any of it means, and there are many theories. I warn you not to read the message board of Eraserhead before you see the film, as it is so much more powerful and chilling to experience it first-hand.

    The first time I saw Eraserhead, I was completely confused. It is possible that David Lynch just put a load of random imagery together and called it a film. Maybe he wanted the viewers to put it all together and make their own sense of it (or not). On the other hand, there might actually be a set formula behind it and only the very open-minded and discerning audience can properly decipher it.

    One viewing of Eraserhead is enough to raise about a dozen questions, and to leave you gasping for answers. Two viewings are probably enough to give you theories about some of the cryptic depictions hauntingly portrayed. Three viewings might be enough to give you a completely different set of theories, battling persistently against your previous conceptions, but still leaving just a few details that don't quite seem to fit in. The truth is that there may be parts that don't make sense in one interpretation, but fit in perfectly to another. You could probably watch Eraserhead several times, and each time see a slightly different story. Or if you were to ask six different people exactly what Eraserhead is about, you would get six different answers, each equally correct in their own right, and each equally confused.

    That being said, this definitely isn't a film for everyone. This is the first Lynch film I have seen, and it certainly won't be the last. But there will no doubt be many who see this purely as a lot of clever mind tricks and special effects (for its time, anyway.) There will be those who don't like much to think about, and want it all explained bit by bit in perfect detail. Well, Eraserhead is an epitome of everything such moviegoers will hate. I will say this for certain: If your favourite films are 'Love Actually' or 'Dude, Where's My Car?', you probably won't get much out of Eraserhead. But for those who like their concepts challenged once in a while, this film will probably be one to watch again and again until you understand. This is also not a film to be forgotten easily. Love it or hate it, Eraserhead will stay with you for a very long time.
    helpful•313
    91
    • B-J-C
    • Jun 1, 2005

    FAQ4

    • Who is the Man in the Planet?
    • What is David Lynch's interpretation of this film?
    • What are the "Glen or Glenda" references?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 3, 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Eraserhead 2000
    • Filming locations
      • Center for Advanced Film Studies, American Film Institute - 2021 N. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • American Film Institute (AFI)
      • Libra Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $23,557
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono(original release)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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