10 Horror Movies That Everyone Loves Now (But Hated Before)

7. Eraserhead

Jennifer's Body
Libra Films International

Keeping things weird and black and white for now, let's pay a little visit to David Lynch.

Before he was taking us all on a trip to Twin Peaks or updating us on the weather on his blog, Lynch was making his first ever feature-length film in 1977.

Eraserhead is about... umm... what is it about? Jack Nance's character turns up, finds a weird baby thing, and then stuff just sort of happens to him. Is that right?

Why are we even bothering to decode a Lynch production? We'd have more luck asking a chicken what time it is.

Since the world wasn't yet used to the director's unique style of filmmaking, Eraserhead came up against some pretty strong resistance in its early days. Variety called it "a sickening bad taste exercise", which is hardly the feedback you want from your debut feature.

Over time though, as the world has become more accepting towards surrealist ideas, the film has become more and more accepted. By this point, Eraserhenad's practically a sacred text - the genesis of one of cinema's most fascinating figures.

Variety must feel terrible.

Contributor
Contributor

Jacob Simmons has a great many passions, including rock music, giving acclaimed films three-and-a-half stars, watching random clips from The Simpsons on YouTube at 3am, and writing about himself in the third person.