Starting with the investigation of the brutal murder of young Laura Palmer in the idyllic Washington state town of Twin Peaks, the weirdest show on television had plenty of genuinely frightening moments during its two season run, as well as surreal and disturbing scenes. Its essentially a masterclass in sustained, odd dread, and nowhere is this more evident in the seventh episode of season two, in which Lauras murderer is finally revealed. During the course of his investigations, FBI agent Dale Cooper has become convinced that Laura was killed by someone possessed by a demonic entity named BOB. Initially, he picks the wrong candidate, and its only at the tail end of episode 14 that were finally shown the true killer: Leland Palmer, Lauras own father. Leland is eventually apprehended and dies in police custody, but not before admitting that hed met BOB as a child, and had been possessed for decades. Laura had been molested, abused and finally murdered by a demon wearing her own fathers face. David Lynchs direction in the revelation scene is simple yet astonishingly effective, relying on unnerving jump cuts between Ray Palmer as Leland and Frank Silva as Bob, as the demon repeats his earlier murder of Laura by beating Lauras cousin and doppelganger Maddie to death in the living room. Its incredibly disturbing, and goes on far too long, becoming riveting: but its the first reveal that sends horrified chills up and down your spine, as Leland looks into the mirror and smiles widely, his reflection BOB only for his own face itself to transform, momentarily, into BOBs gibbering, insane visage as well Whats the most chilling, frightening thing youve ever seen on television? Tell us all about it in the comments!
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
