After years of relative quiet, that director we like has come back into style. Thanks to the resurrection of Twin Peaks, ‘What David Lynch is up to now’ is again a prominent topic of cinephile conversation and ‘The Art Life’ hits store shelves at just the right moment. The film is itself somewhat difficult to pin down to a genre. It is not quite documentary, not quite bio-pic, not quite art film, and not quite a surrealist canvas but is a most unique blending of all those elements. David Lynch invites you into his home to smoke a cigarette and watch him paint. He sits down at a microphone and begins to spin the story of his life and his work in his trademark, enigmatic style. The film is a kaleidoscope of images and memories woven together in a way that is as mysterious as the man himself. He voice is hypnotic and his love of holding you in rapt attention and suspense proliferates every tale.
In the midst of the wonderful history and storytelling of David Lynch is all this amazing footage of him working in his studio. He creates dozens of pieces, paintings, sculpture, metal work, and all manner of interesting media. It’s a delight to watch him jump in, both hands full of paint, and spread it out on a canvas. I’ve long known of his creativity on film but seeing him apply his ideas in other art forms is deeply satisfying and gives ‘The Art Life’ a brilliant visual pulse.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
– High-definition digital transfer, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
– New interview with codirector Jon Nguyen
– Trailer
– PLUS: A new essay by critic Dennis Lim
Ray is just your average middle age man playing an electric guitar in the middle of the night in his mom’s house to drown out the demon’s voices, when his mom interrupts him and declares that he’s going back to the hospital. He beats her and his father to death and then flees the house. Sometime later, the house is sold to Jesse (a heavily tattooed and mostly shirtless Ethan Embry) and his family. Jesse is a near down and out painter, taking commissions to survive. Luckily for him, those same demons voices start telling him to paint some really cool stuff; unluckily for his family, Ray is also a child murderer and, when he comes by to reclaim his house, he lays eyes on Jesse’s teen daughter Zooey.
The worst I could say is that The Devil’s Candy is a little uneven and the mythology seems a little convoluted and hazy. I also wish there had been a little more focus on the family dynamic before we dive right into the satanic art projects. However, on the whole, Candy is a fun little jaunt through madness and shallow graves. Ethan breaks out his very best unsettling stares and Pruitt Taylor Vince is excellent as the deeply disturbed Ray. Once you finish the movie be sure to rock out to the included music video by Goya.
Special features include:
- Commentary with director Sean Byrne
- Behind-the-Scenes Visual Effects
- “Advantage Satan” Short Film
- Music Video
- Art Gallery
- Theatrical Trailer
Adam Ruhl is a writer and life long Cinephile. He is the Executive
Cinema Editor of Pop Culture Beast’s Austin branch; covering festivals,
conventions, and new releases. When not filing reports, Adam can be
found stalking Alamo Drafthouse Programmers for leads on upcoming
DrafthouseFilms titles. Adam once blocked Harry Knowles entrance to a
theater until he was given extra tickets to a Roman Polanski movie.