Poll: David Lynch Trademarks

Results of 881 votes:

1. 1.
   

   Mulholland Drive (2001)

    

   Intricate plots and amibigious meanings which inspire speculation and can make it necessary to watch the films multiple times before appreciating them.
2. 2.
   

   Twin Peaks (1990)

    

   The use of little American forest towns as settings, as in Blue Velvet (1986), the Twin Peaks (1990) TV series and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992).
3. 3.
   

   Jack Nance in Eraserhead (1977)

    

   Dream sequences, or sequences whose reality is dubious.
4. 4.
   

   Laura Harring and Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive (2001)

    

   The use of Los Angeles as a setting, as in Lost Highway (1997), Mulholland Drive (2001) and Inland Empire (2006).
5. 5.
   

   #3

    

   Angelo Badalamenti's distinctive music, as heard in Blue Velvet (1986), Wild at Heart (1990), Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted (1992), the Twin Peaks (1990) series, Twin Peaks…
6. 6.
   

   Isabella Rossellini in Blue Velvet (1986)

    

   Visual aesthetics: The use of intense colors, dark pictures and shadows.
7. 7.
   

   Kyle MacLachlan in Twin Peaks (1990)

    

   Leading Man Kyle MacLachlan, who worked with Lynch on Dune (1984), Blue Velvet (1986), the Twin Peaks (1990) series and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992).
8. 8.
   

   Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt in The Elephant Man (1980)

    

   Defacements, deformations and disabilities and their consequences, as in pretty much all of his movies except The Straight Story (1999).
9. 9.
   

   Jack Nance in Twin Peaks (1990)

    

   The recurring use of peculiar character actors, mostly in supporting roles, for instance Jack Nance, Michael J. Anderson, Miguel Ferrer and Harry Dean Stanton.
10. 10.
    

    David Lynch and Freddie Francis in The Straight Story (1999)

     

    The unique use of sound effects, usually provided by Lynch himself.
11. 11.
    

    Sheryl Lee in Twin Peaks (1990)

     

    Acts and results of violence, often contrasted or connotated with peace or humor.
12. 12.
    

    Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern in Wild at Heart (1990)

     

    Scenes with graphic sex or sexual connotation.
13. 13.
    

    Dean Stockwell in Blue Velvet (1986)

     

    The use of songs from bygone eras.
14. 14.
    

    Patricia Arquette in Lost Highway (1997)

     

    References to other films (especially film noir) or the film-making world.
15. 15.
    

    Laura Dern and Kyle MacLachlan in Blue Velvet (1986)

     

    1950's kitsch/clichés or nostalgia, like certain music, fashion, architecture, cars, naive behavior of characters, sometimes countered by hidden threats.
16. 16.
    

    "Dune" Sting

     

    Industrial settings - foam, fire and noise, most importantly in Eraserhead (1977), The Elephant Man (1980) and Dune (1984).
17. 17.
    

    Laura Dern in Inland Empire (2006)

     

    Leading Lady Laura Dern, who worked with Lynch on Blue Velvet (1986), Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted (1992), Wild at Heart (1990) and Inland Empire (2006).
18. 18.
    

    Monty Montgomery

     

    Peculiar language and seemingly out of place utterances.