Eraserhead (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Five stars for the movie itself, but the DVD...I don't know how to rate it. Because the high-def quality and extra features are al fantastic, but it's missing one very basic quality: scene selection. And not by accident. David Lynch says that his films "must be watched in one sitting." I guess if something interrupts you and the DVD ends up popping out while you're halfway through, you're just out of luck. Never mind the fact that this seems to be a film that's meant to be analyzed. But DL doesn't want you going back to revisit a specific scene. So much for film teachers who might like to analyze certain iconic scenes with their classes. Well joke's on you Mr. Lynch, because on a laptop you *can* still skip ahead to any part you want. Still asinine that we can't have that feature on the actual TV though. As for the movie, I love it, but probably not in the way I'm supposed to. Everyone calls "Eraserhead" a "horror" movie, but for me it's just not. For the most part, I find it oddly relaxing, and often hilarious. The movie is compared to a "nightmare," but it's not for me. It's absolutely like a dream, but not necessarily a bad one. ("Meet the Feebles" and "Hobo With a Shotgun," *those* are films I would call "filmed nightmares." But not "Eraserhead.") First, the Baby. I think time has ruined the effect David Lynch intended the Baby to have. Synopses describe it as "deformed," and in 1977 maybe "deformed human baby" is the first thing that would come to most people's minds. But after decades of sci-fi movies with realistic looking, grotesque aliens and creatures, Henry's baby to me just looks like a hatchling from an alien species. It's ugly and gross, but not much more so than the newborns of some real animal species. Most of the grossest moments in the movie just feel uncomfortable or squickish to me, but not outright "disturbing." The fact that Henry is the only one acting surprised by any of this gives you the sense that, for Mary's family at least, this stuff is all expected and natural. The fact that all this stuff freaking out Henry, but not Mary or her parents, tends to relate to things like mensuration and pregnancy, can't be a coincidence. And at the risk of sounding a bit sexist, I think a female viewer will probably be less freaked out by these things than a guy. People have all kinds of theories about what "dark" meaning David Lynch hid in this movie, but to me it's just a black comedy about parenthood. No, I'm not a parent myself. Maybe my opinion on this movie will change if and when I have kids. But all of the "horror" in the movie seems like an exaggerated version of the basic anxieties of a new parent. Much of the symbolism throughout the movie also feels very on-the-nose, again, probably because of the time that's past. The same subliminal things that were clever in 1977 might be cliche nowadays. (Henry's head is replaced by a love-rod, which is then replaced by his baby's head. Gorsh, I wonder what Henry is regretting.) Finally, the acting and special nearly effects all hold up PERFECTLY. The baby puppet is still mind-blowing. At no point do I stop and think someone is over or under acting. The dreamlike setting makes any fake-looking props fit right in. If you like truly weird or surreal movies, "Eraserhead" is a must-see. And if you're already a fan but have only seen it online, it is definitely worth seeing on a proper TV screen in high def, because you notice so many more details you'd miss when streaming online. Don't let the hype about how "disturbing" or "horrifying" it is get you excited for a chiller, but *do* prepare for some gross or uncomfortable moments.

Criterion Collection transfer as always looks amazing & contains exceptional special features ●Blu-Ray looks & sounds great● The disc specifications including art, extras and special features are exactly as listed

I have the Blu Ray version and an older DVD version. The contrast, saturation and black level is much better in this Blu Ray. I will not go into the film it's self, other reviewers have already done a nice job. But, there are several prints of this film avalible, which makes it hard to choose which one is best. Be aware that Criterion is releasing a new digital restoration in Blu Ray in September 2014. I have mine on preorder. We will just have to wait and see if the new Criterion version is any better then this Blu Ray. So, if you want to buy this disk, you would be well advised to wait until September, when the restoration hits the market. I am sure I have bought this film at least 4 times, as formats improve over time. The film it's self is very dark in saturation, and you cant see some of the details. This was also the case in the theater when I first saw it at the AFI (Washington, DC), when I was a member. No one had seen the film, and Mr. Lynch was supposed to have been there to introduce the film, but he didnt show up. It was his actual final work print that was screened that evening. The Blu Ray edition fixes the black saturation so more details are finally visible. I am wondering what other details I havent seen yet may be revieled in Criterion's new restoration. I am keeping my fingers crossed, I really dont want to keep buying this film hoping to find the jackpot!!!!

THE GOD TIER OF CRITERION OH MY LORD amazing packaging as always (duh) THE BOOK INCLUDED IN THIS IS OUTSTANDING and then the amazing surprise of having (pretty much) and HD-ReRelease of "The Short Films of David Lynch" doesnt include "The Cowboy and the Frenchman" BUT HD VERSIONS OF "Six Men Getting Sick" "The Alphabet" "The Grandmother" & "Premonitions Following an Evil Deed"

Great movie by the master D Lynch. Criterion Editions make greatness even better, if possible.

Surreal first film from David Lynch Awesome!!

Great collection item. For lynch fans

I'm writing this review to inform purchasers that there is a point in the disc around the 65 minute mark where the screen goes blank when it is supposed to show a reaction shot of Henry. The blank was in the print that they made the disc from and last about 5 seconds. This defect shows up in both the blu-ray and the DVD. Criterion is making replacement discs available. Email them at [email protected] and put ERASERHEAD REPLACEMENT in the subject. They will give you an address where you can mail your disc. They will send you a replacement disc and a $10 certificate that can be used at their on-line store. Other than the problem with the discs, this is a great product that is up to the usual high standards of Criterion. The picture and sound are great. I haven't watched the extras so I cannot speak to their quality. I love this film and would be giving it a 5 star review if it wasn't for the problem with the discs. I think Criterion is handling it well although I wish they were getting the information out to everyone easier. There is nothing about this problem on their website.

An extraordinary film from a (then) fledgling director which actually made me feel queasy the first time I saw it. A must have film for any serious cinephile. Go to www.bluray.com for an in depth review and description of the exhaustive extras. The whole thing is mind-blowing.

Criterion siempre haciendo un gran trabajo al remasterizar películas antiguas, muchísima calidad e incluye un libro donde te cuentan sobre la película, fotografías detrás del set. Además que incluye material extra en el disco. Ampliamente recomendado.

Questa è la migliore edizione esistente di Eraserhead, per qualità tecniche e contenuti speciali. Tuttavia non è utilizzabile in Europa perché il disco è leggibile solo dai lettori americani. Personalmente ho dovuto restituirlo e ripiegare su altre edizioni, ma per chiunque avesse un lettore compatibile con questo codice, ribadisco che non c’è versione migliore, per questo darò comunque 5 stelle

fter reading about Eraserhead in Danny Peary's Cult Movies Volume 1, back in 1992, I had always wanted to see this film. The tagline "A dream of dark and troubling things" fits the film perfectly. Peary's review contained no content as to what the film was about at all. Thankfully. Knowing nothing of the film before viewing is essential. The film is so bizarre and amazingly constructed its exactly like a dream. You have no idea which portions of the film are the main characters reality or his dreamings. They blend together to the point where they become one. I purchased the original Eraserhead DVD from Lynch's website in 2005, the "Cleaned and Remastered" edition. It's restoration was for the most part, perfect. I saw absolutely no need to upgrade till the advent of bluray. The film's black and white reproduction by Criterion is amazing. Taking Lynchs 2000 remastering even further up the quality chain, this time with LPCM audio. And audio is so important to this film. The extra's are plentiful, making this edition essential, surpassing the original 2000 version. However, one little problem. The First Pressing by Criterion has a glitch. When Henry (Jack Nance) see's the Lady in the Radiator she passes him something, white light. As they join hands the film fades up to white, then shows Henry who throws the white light back to her, then she disappears. This edition fades up to white, then the image disappears, blackout for 5 seconds at least. Then the picture returns. As per Criterion's website, this was due to useage of the original camera negative. How this could have gotten by quality control is beyond me, to the point where I have to assume.... they didn't look at it or didn't know the film? I've been told that the corrected discs have "Second Pressing" on the disc itself but on the outer cover still says "First Pressing". In my attempt to get a corrected copy from Criterion I have done as the site subscribes, email them. That was a month ago, 3 times i have mailed them with no response. Quality control? Quite worrisome, as I do not want to just send my copy in to thieir address and have nothing come back to me. The discs presentation, mastering, extras, image, audio are all 5 stars. A MUST have for a Lynch fan at least, but Criterion's customer service I dare say disappointing. So make sure your copy has a "Second Pressing" imprinted on the disc.

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