10 Terrifying Movie Characters You Never Actually Got To See
3. Mystery Man - Lost Highway
Lost Highway is one of David Lynchs confusing masterpieces about a man who is framed for his wife murder, and whilst in prison inexplicably morphs into a different person. Long and moderately baffling hijinks ensue. Like most David Lynch films, Lost Highway runs on a sinister undercurrent of dread and impending doom which is masterfully perpetuated by deeply unnerving yet very brief visits from an unnamed character who is noted as Mystery Man in the credits. He is first met at a party attended by the film's initial protagonist, Fred, and his still-living wife, Renee. Having seen a vision of the mystery man in his wifes face, Fred immediately recognises him despite having not physically met him. The mystery man approaches him, and tells him that they have indeed met before. He then convinces Fred to call his own home number (on a fascinatingly huge and 90s mobile phone). The mystery man then answers Freds home phone, whilst standing in front of him, unspeaking. Despite definitely working behind the scenes to move forward the action of Lost Highway, the mystery man doesn't appear again until near the end of the film. After Fred turns into Pete, he goes to a cabin in the desert with a woman called Alice. The mystery man reappears, revealing that Alice is actually Renee. Pete turns back into Fred, and then the mystery man gives him a knife to kill his wifes lover with. All very simple really. The Mystery Man is terrifying in both appearance and action. His white face and slicked hair is intimidating, despite his small stature, and in fulfilling his promise of being both in front of Fred and answering the telephone in his house simultaneously, it's impossible to know the limit of his ability. He has potentially been filming Renee and Fred whilst they sleep, and clearly knows much more than even the audience will ever find out. He disappears as quickly as he appears, and remains one of the biggest mysteries of this very ambiguous film.
