Lynch's The Elephant Man

I'm starting this thread mostly because the acting in this flick is just straight-up fascinating. I’ve never been much of a fan of Hopkins, though I have to give him credit for his Nixon in that Stone's movie I caught late last night, but here he delivers this incredibly subtle, convincing, and delicate performance, and the women are just phenomenal; honestly, this is probably the only Lynch film where I actually found the acting more gripping than anything else about the whole thing.

Wait, hasn't this thread already been started before?😕

Brian Gonzalez7 said:hasn't this thread already been made😕

?

So, what’s this movie actually about? I've heard people talking about it a ton, but I still haven't gotten around to watching it... 🤷 🤷

It’s the true story of John Merrick, born with severe physical deformities, who is exploited by a circus owner just to turn a profit. A surgeon (Hopkins) steps in to "save" him, and we gradually realize that Merrick is actually a deeply human individual—intelligent, witty, and ultimately more grounded than most of us.

A beautiful film. It’s probably the most "accessible" Lynch movie ever made, right up there with The Straight Story.

I only saw that movie once back when I was a kid—but man, it stuck with me forever. Apparently, they claim Merrick's mother was trampled by an elephant during pregnancy, which supposedly caused his condition, but if you ask me, that sounds like pure Hollywood fiction.

driftingeagle27 said:The main reason I wanted to start a thread about this movie is just to talk about the acting—it’s honestly fascinating. Hopkins, who isn't usually my favorite actor (though I have to give him credit for playing Nixon in that Stone film I started watching last night), delivers such a subtle (!), believable, and delicate performance here. And the women? Just fantastic. This is probably the only Lynch film where I actually found myself enjoying the acting more than anything else about the plot.

This was the movie that made me fall in love with Hopkins. As he got older, though, his stuff just didn't do it for me anymore.

It’s one of those rare Lynch films that doesn't leave you feeling like a deer caught in high beams, paralyzed while some speeding semi-truck barrels toward you in the dark. It’s different. Instead, it just leaves me feeling hollowed out and depressed. The whole thing is a pretty heavy lift to sit through, but honestly? It’s brilliant. 👍

Yeah, it’s heavy. But it’s beautiful.
I only watched it once, a few years back, but that was enough for me. I still can't get that one scene out of my head—where Merrick tells the doctor he feels better than he ever has, simply because the people he looks up to are finally accepting him.
Kids really should watch this movie... maybe they'd grow up being a little more tolerant.

I’ve gotta say, this movie just totally floored me with its atmosphere. I mean—seriously—I don't think I've ever experienced an atmosphere quite that immersive or suggestive in any other film, before or since.

Look, it’s a decent enough movie, but honestly? It drags. I can't help but feel a little disappointed that Lynch didn't lean into that signature intensity we see in his later work more heavily. 😬

Watched The Elephant Man on TV tonight. Forgot just how much of a gut punch that movie is...

ruggedjackal46 said:Look, it's a solid movie, but honestly? A bit of a snooze. I really wish Lynch had brought more of that energy he uses in his later stuff. He was playing it way too safe here. 😬

😲😲
Whoa, hey now, let's not get carried away with the blasphemy.

😁

I finally carved out some time to sit down and watch this one... honestly, it’s a total masterpiece by Lynch. It feels pretty distinct from his usual stuff, but I definitely agree with what was said earlier—it's incredibly intense and probably isn't for everyone.

Honestly, that was probably the most beautiful, moving, and just plain heartbreaking movie I’ve seen in ages. It’s a classic for a reason, I guess. It’s one of those rare films where the ending hits you with this massive wave of catharsis, leaving you kind of questioning yourself, your values, and how you actually view people in this world. To me, that’s what real art—and real cinema—is supposed to do. That's why The Elephant Man is such an absolute gem.

I’ll be the first to admit that the movie has reached legendary status, and I totally respect everything it brought to the table regarding filmmaking, but if I’m being completely honest, I’ve just never been able to connect with this particular Lynch masterpiece.

Lynch is just such a strange guy, isn't he? Personally, I’d say this is easily one of his best works, right up there with Mulholland Drive.

The Elephant Man is easily one of my all-time favorites, yet it’s also one of the most grueling films I’ve ever sat through. It leaves me emotionally drained. I couldn't handle watching it again, but it remains one of those rare masterpieces that earns a perfect 10/10 from me.

Nicole Davis7 said:I totally fell for Hopkins back in the day. Once he started getting older, though? Not so much.

1. Elephantism Elephantism

Elephantism Elephantism is caused by a parasitic worm spread by mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites someone, it injects a worm larva into the bloodstream that multiplies and spreads, staying in the system for years. You might not even see symptoms until a year after the bite, but once they hit, you get these swollen, deformed limbs because the parasite messes with your circulation and causes fluid buildup. It hits about 120 million people worldwide, with 40 million suffering pretty badly.

quietdrifter said:1. Elephantiasis

Elephantiasis is caused by a parasitic worm spread by mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites someone, it injects a worm larva into the bloodstream, which then multiplies and spreads through the blood, sometimes staying alive for years. Symptoms can pop up even a year after the initial bite. The physical deformities—those swollen limbs and body parts—happen because the parasite messes with circulation, causing blood to pool in the surrounding tissue. This disease affects about 120 million people, with 40 million suffering from severe cases.

I think they're talking about Proteus syndrome!
OT: That movie felt pretty heavy and grueling to me too, so I wasn't planning on revisiting it. But now? I guess I'm intrigued enough to go back and brush up on it.