Can The Elephant Man be called Horroh?

[Haddonfield]

i used to think of it as horroh as a kid but now i see it in a different light. Its not talked about much but in my eyes it very well could be the most important movie ever made. at least top 3. it forces you to deal with things unlike any other movie i can think of. Schindler's List and Magnolia are the other two that make a profound statement but The Elephant Man is so subtle it hurts! this is hands down in the top 5 of all time movies ever made. but is it horroh? drama? bio? (even tho its not an exact bio pic) it has everything. Anthony Hopkins put in the role of a LIFETIME. not just for him but for every actor and actress in the universe.

If they only made movies like this more often...

[Romero&Juliet]

I loved the Elephent man, but I wouldn't call it horror...
One of the greatest films that I have ever seen, and definitely Lynch's best.
I haven't read much about John Merrick, though...How innacurate was the story in the movie??

[the saw is family]

i wouldnt classify it as horror either,i would call it a drama it is a great film though i don't think it's lynch's best.

[Romero&Juliet]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by the saw is family:
i wouldnt classify it as horror either,i would call it a drama it is a great film though i don't think it's lynch's best.</font>
..wellll..For me ti would be a tossup between that, and Wild At heart...but I haven't seen his new one movie

[bowieee]

Blue Velvet has got to be my all time favorite classic lynch film and I think that it is closer to horror than the the elephant man. The elephant man was more a movie focused on drama rather than horror which is how it should be. The only horror in the elephant man I can spot is the cruelty of humanity.

[the saw is family]

romero and juliet you have to see mulholland drive that and blue velvet are tied for best lynch movie imo both get 10/10

[ParileseMonster]

Nah It is a drama, not a horror. The Elephant went through some personal horror's but that is about all the horror you will find in this great movie.

[Elgyn]

Excellent movie, but definetly NOT horror.

[Emo]

Lynch's best?
Better than the 10/10 Lost Highway?
hm......

[Haddonfield]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Romero&Juliet:
I haven't read much about John Merrick, though...How innacurate was the story in the movie??</font>

from what ive heard John used his deformity for profit at some point in his life. Its very unlike what we saw in the movie but that aside, the movie is FANTASTIC!

[Jewbo]

this and requiem for a dream are my foint fave movies of all time. definatly not horror but great non the less.

[Haddonfield]

tho there is somthing quite horrifying about this movie...i cant help but think the tone of this "movie" makes it a horroh flick. its just so not the normal..its not total drama, its not total horroh...its not total anything but an unrelentless slap in the face...maybe a new genre should be named for this one!

[Romero&Juliet]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Emo:
Lynch's best?
Better than the 10/10 Lost Highway?
hm......</font>

For some reason Lost Highway didn't really sit well with me....I loved the movie and all, and I think we can all agree that all his stuff is incredible..(if only the man made a "real" horror movie)
but, do you think that Lost Highway was a little...esoteric?? (Lynch?? Esoteric?? Who knew?? http://www.joblo.com/ubb/biggrin.gif )
What I really mean is, And I dont want to offend anyone, but it seemed to me that it was a bit of a soundtrack movie...like a big 'ol nine inch nails video. Sort of appealing to us kids more than anything.
I knew soo many people my age who went to see that movie just because of the Manson cameo, and it really pissed me off! and IMO, he should've been a little pickier about that kind of casting....because, undoubtedly, it'll be known as "the Lynch film with Marilyn Manson!!" (double whammy!!)
Either it was a teensy-weensy bit of a sellout, or the man was just making fun..
you cant tell with him anyways!!

[Elgyn]

Romeo&Juilet - I love "Lost Highway", but I know what you mean about it being kind of a 'soundtrack movie'.
And I remember music magazines made such a huge deal about Manson being in it - big friggin` deal, he was in it for like 2 seconds!

[The Evil Demonic Zombie]

Lost Highway is far from a sellout movie, that is why Trent was involved. (another Ex: is Natural Born Killers)
a LOT of Lynch's recent films have receieved poor criticism because of the abstract quality each film possesses.
I honestly think this is one of Lynch's best flicks and one notable as a horror film. (the other that sticks out is FWWM)
***SPOILERS***
**************LOST HIGHWAY
**************
From my own personal analysis of the film, and insight I have read from the cast, crew, and Lynch himself the film proceeds as follows...
***SPOILERS***
Pullman is a man dulled by the everyday pain he feels towards his wife, b/c he knows there marriage is doomed for failure. After beleiving his wife is having an affair he murders her. After this happens he becomes so tormented by the pain, fear, confusion, and anguish he feels, his universe (through the powers of metaphysics, and the help of Satan) is altered and he switches places 100% physically and 50% mentally with someone else who made a pack with the devil.
Thus this is why after the transformation the new lead character see's Loggias wife as Pullmans wife. With the 50% mentallity left from Pullman the new lead falls in love with a mirror image of Arquette, who isn't really her. She is masked by the deal he made with the devil. That is also why he has flashbacks of places he has never been because Pullman was actually there.
If you watch the film with this insight in mind the ideas aforementioned clarify certain unanswered Q's but you also have to remember the film is laced with abstract sugar coating.

[Romero&Juliet]

I did see the movie a load of times, and I didn't find the abstract quality (which is pretty much present in all of his movies)
to be the downside. What I did find stupid was its obvious gen-X appeal! I just think that it's a little out of character for him..and to me, the fact that Trenty-boy DID have something to so with the soundtrack, says it all.


Great take on the movie, though! I totally agree with you on some of the things that you said..
it's actually alot of fun hearing about other peoples Lost highway theories...perhaps the fact that it is so open for interperation makes it so appealing.
I always saw it as a sort of comment on the "darkside" of the media.
Porn producers, faux Black&White balls with crazy makeup men.....the idea of casting Gary Busey as a father has to mean something people! ...and of course, Mr. Manson, at the very peak of his fifteen minutes making such a daring (eh-hem) cameo...simply to shock the masses, given his part..