David Lynch’s 22 Strangest ‘Otherworld’ Characters
16. Ben: Blue Velvet
In dreams I walk with you In dreams I talk to you This is a bit of a cheat entry into the list, because Blue Velvets Ben (Dean Stockwell) is likely a real world figure, but there is no denying the otherworldly quality of his brief scene in arguably Lynchs most celebrated film. Ben, a suave fucker according to Dennis Hoppers Frank Booth, effectively appears solely to perform a mimed version of Roy Orbisons In Dreams. It is this performance that shows he possesses the same omniscient knowledge that defines others on the list. He recognises the dreamlike quality of the film, while the overexposed lighting and heavy makeup make him look like a dream figure himself. It is telling that Ben is the only person Frank seems to respect perhaps even fear. He has qualities and knowledge beyond Franks comprehension. Blue Velvet is unusual in that it has very few otherworld characters, but Ben comes close: an ethereal and ambiguous figure whose narrative role remains unclear even after multiple viewings.