It's almost impossible to know where to begin with a review for this film. From the very beginning, director David Lynch lets the viewer know that this is not just a two-hour-and-fifteen-minute episode of the cult classic television show (that he and writer Mark Frost created) put on film and released to theaters. However, this film serves as both a prequel and a sequel (of sorts) to the T.V. show.

The basic summary of the plot is that this film is essentially a eulogy to one of the television's central characters: Laura Palmer (of which we saw precious little of in the actual show) and an exploration of her last seven days in this mortal coil. The film depicts her many struggles; these include her drug abuse, her sexual promiscuity, her struggle with maintaining innocence within her dark lifestyle, and her crumbling relationships with her best friend Donna Heyward, her football-hero-boyfriend Bobby Briggs, and the true love of her life, James Hurley.

The film also explores her strained relationship with her father (who, if the viewer has watched the t.v. show will know, brings upon the untimely demise of his own daughter) and her having to cope with the struggles of living at home with a psychotic molester. In addition, the film explores the mythology created in the t.v. show surrounding Bob (The evil spirit that possesses Laura's father) and the Red Room/Black Lodge(where Bob and other strange entities roam in a zigzag patterned room surrounded by red curtains and sparse furniture).

What is most amazing of about the film is how it dove-tails many minor characters from the show and most of the clues that were given about Laura Palmer's murder and weaves them almost seamlessly into the plot. The prologue details the murder of Teresa Banks (only mentioned on the t.v. show) and how the investigation a year prior to Laura's own murder ties in with the show and plot of this film. Such attention to detail pays off and really bring characters like Ronette Palaski (the lady wondering aimlessly in the pilot episode) to light with a certain appreciation that wasn't there before (There is a tear-jerking scene towards the end that shows Ronette as an angel, symbolizing that she will be the one who will help to bring Laura's murderer to justice)

Another aspect of the film that fans will sure to appreciate is how the film transports a few bits of the second season (after Laura's murderer had been revealed) and sort of goes back-and-forth in time and gives an illusion, if not a definite answer, to where the new show (coming in 2017) may go.

The film is a bit of challenge to watch, but in a way that was strikingly similar to the first viewing of his masterpiece "Blue Velvet". The first time watching any of Lynch's films will put the viewer through a state of utter bewilderment after viewing. Often times, one is left wondering what they watched, or if they had watched anything at all, and not just imagined it.

Personally, I rather liked the film (though I wouldn't say it was quite as brilliant as "Blue Velvet"), and found it to be a great addition to the "Twin Peaks" mythology. However, the film did have its flaws. While it is understandable that Lynch wanted to set this film apart in a way from the series as far as graphic content (such as nudity and violence), it doesn't feel completely necessary and therefore takes away a bit of the story's intentions rather than adds to the effect. Another is that some scenes feel longer than they should be and scenes that should've been longer are too short for the impact they were going for. (The unevenness may have mostly to do with the fact that the film was cut down from nearly four hours!)

It was very ambitious for Lynch to set out and make this film, tackling so many themes (the angst of teenage years, the loss of innocence in a picturesque town, time-travel between two worlds) as well as trying to please both fans of the show and newcomers to the world of Twin Peaks. And while, for Peaks fans, the film may disappoint on some level for not having all of the characters from the t.v. show (Sheriff Truman, Deputy Andy and "Hawk", Audrey Horne, etc.), it is commendable on Lynch's part that he did not just try to shoe-horn everyone's favorite characters from the show at the risk of corrupting the overall themes of the film. Therefore, Lynch deserves some credit, as he nearly hits home with all that sets out to accomplish.

Overall, this is a well-done film with Lynch at his darkest (with some of the themes and imagery being a bit of a throwback to the director's earlier films, especially "The Grandmother"). The acting is great all around (especially Sheryl Lee as Laura Palmer and Chris Isaak as Agent Chester Desmond-a character created specifically for the film), the soundtrack is wonderful and the lighting/cinema photography is excellent as per usual of a Lynch film. However, this film is not for all tastes and it is recommended to see the show first and then to watch the film, which undoubtedly brings more resonance to the proceedings.

FBI regional chief Gordon Cole (David Lynch) sends agents Chet Desmond (Chris Isaak) and Sam Stanley (Kiefer Sutherland) to investigate the murder of Teresa Banks in Deer Meadow. Agent Desmond disappears and Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is sent but he comes to a dead end. One year later, Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) and her friend Donna Hayward (Moira Kelly) are attending Twin Peaks high school. Laura is a troubled drug-addicted girl haunted by a mysterious Bob.

This is mostly for fans of the TV show. It probably wouldn't make sense for people who haven't seen the show. It may not all make sense for those who have either. David Lynch continues to let his freak flag fly as his TV show devolves into meandering randomness in the second season. It has many of the same characters except Moira Kelly is playing Donna Hayward. In the first case, Chris Isaak and Kiefer Sutherland don't add up to anything compelling. Kyle MacLachlan gets a small cameo. I don't know if it's Sheryl Lee's performance but Laura Palmer is a bit of a disappointment. The TV show builds her up to be this iconic figure and I doubt anything could have satisfied. It's almost impossible to fulfill. This is not for everybody and may not be compelling even for fans of the TV show. It's weird. It's a bit slow especially with the expectation of its eventual ending. There is no mystery or thrills but it's weirdly entrancing.

Not Lynch at his best(that would be Blue Velvet, though personal favourite is The Elephant Man), it is a very good film and should please fans of the TV series, even if darker in tone and lacking the show's humour. Lynch's films may be strange, unconventional and not always easy to understand for some, but all of them are visually striking, dynamically scored and with great performances, atmosphere and direction as well as working amazingly as mood pieces and being among the most unique films in existence- the only film of his that I didn't care for was Dune, was mixed on Inland Empire too but that still had a lot of the above components.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me may not be as good as the TV series but did not deserve the negative reception it got at the time. The few flaws it has has nothing to do with being darker and lacking the show's humour, they are not even flaws. David Bowie did stick out like a sore thumb and to me was embarrassingly bad(though a lot of it was to do with how his character was written) but the film's biggest flaw was that you could tell that it was originally written as a much longer film, with so much truncated there were parts where things felt under-explained and incomplete, a longer length would have helped(personal opinion of course and not one other people will share).

Coming onto however what was good about Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, the film does everything else right. As said before, Lynch's films are always visually great, and to say that Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me looks great visually is not enough. The film in fact has wonderfully moody cinematography and lovingly designed sets, while the surreal imagery looks so mesmerising that regardless of whether the story confuses you you cannot possibly look away. Lynch's direction as ever is impeccable, his style unmistakable and the haunting soundtrack draws you in effortlessly. The story won't be everyone's cup of tea, I did find myself completely engrossed and found it along with Sophie Scholl: The Final Days one of the most powerful films personally seen in a while. Sure, it did feel under-explained and incomplete in parts but it never bored me and like every other Lynch film as a mood piece it's amazing. Parts were incredibly intense and shocking(the most intense parts making for one of the most disturbing films there is) but others were genuinely emotional as well. Regarding individual scenes in a film where one hypnotic scene follows another, the strobe-lit disco degradation stuck out in particular.

Apart from Bowie, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me is very well-acted, Sheryl Lee is superb and at times heart-breaking as an easy-to-root-for character while Ray Wise is just terrifying as one of the scariest father figures on film. Harry Dean Stanton, Kiefer Sutherland and Kyle MacLauchlan are on fun form too. In conclusion, a very under-appreciated film and undeservedly so. 8/10 Bethany Cox