David Lynch is a ubiquitous name in the cinephile world, necessary viewing for all budding filmmakers and film fans, and certainly one of the most influential directors of the modern era. But it’s been a decade since the director has released a feature length film (he’s produced a whole host of shorts and music docs in the interim, as always), which has left many of us craving a fix. For a while now, that’s meant delving into the rich and eclectic films of his backlog (“Blue Velvet,” “The Elephant Man,” “Eraserhead,” etc.). That is, until last year when word got out that a new season of the cult classic “Twin Peaks” was in production.
READ MORE: Retrospective: The Films Of David Lynch
It’s only natural that such an idiosyncratic and innovative director would influence the next generation of directors. And while influence can sometimes burden a film (and mute a filmmaker’s voice) to the point where it becomes a cheap knockoff, Jacob T. Swinney has cut together a video essay of a few of the best movies that felt Lynch’s influence. “Not Directed By David Lynch” takes a look at works by Darren Aronofsky, Gaspar Noé, and Richard Kelly, among others, that have been kissed with inspiration from Lynch. One of the most notable standouts is Jonathan Glazer’s excellent and unnerving “Under The Skin” (a film that topped our best of 2014 list), which flourished under Lynch’s influence while managing to be something completely new and unto itself.
So, if you can’t wait for the forthcoming season of “Twin Peaks,” check out “Not Directed By David Lynch” above and maybe even revisit some of the films he inspired. And don’t forget to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.