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Eraserhead

Play trailer 0:46 Poster for Eraserhead 1977 1h 29m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
87% Tomatometer 86 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Henry (John Nance) resides alone in a bleak apartment surrounded by industrial gloom. When he discovers that an earlier fling with Mary X (Charlotte Stewart) left her pregnant, he marries the expectant mother and has her move in with him. Things take a decidedly strange turn when the couple's baby turns out to be a bizarre lizard-like creature that won't stop wailing. Other characters, including a disfigured lady who lives inside a radiator, inhabit the building and add to Henry's troubles.
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Eraserhead

Eraserhead

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Critics Consensus

David Lynch's surreal Eraserhead uses detailed visuals and a creepy score to create a bizarre and disturbing look into a man's fear of parenthood.

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Critics Reviews

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Bernard Zuel Sydney Morning Herald 4d
It feels like the very best of student film, but with more vivid imagination, more skill at the edges, more craft at the core. Go to Full Review
J. Hoberman Village Voice 01/23/2025
Eraserhead's not a movie I'd drop acid for, although I would consider it a revolutionary act if someone dropped a reel of it into the middle of Star Wars. Go to Full Review
Linda Gross Los Angeles Times 01/23/2025
Monster babies, like concentration camps, are bad subjects for jokes. Although Lynch's taste is objectionable, his directorial talent is unquestionable. Go to Full Review
Charlotte Simmons The Treatment (Substack) 4d
In a sentence, it is the sexful Henry’s anxiety-based wish to inhabit the destructive without the creative, hence "Eraserhead." Go to Full Review
Max Allen Horror Movie Talk Dec 4
7/10
Time moves awkwardly slow, a low hum and sharp static hang over most of the scenes, and even the mere movements of the characters feel so off. Go to Full Review
Pat Padua Washington City Paper Apr 30
...took several years to complete but unspools like a single, unforgettable fever dream. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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tommy 02/01/2025 The ugliness of the universe is pulling the levers to release the baby (spirit) into the world dropped in to the water (wet planet earth) hairy hole gurney dirty industrial area the dirtiness of man the torn photo is how he feels about her he’s torn she is attached to her mother like the puppies to theirs In American culture family is everything keep grandma involved a slight toward the poultry industry man made chicken has her in a trance the divine comedy she’s crying bill is smiling Americans getting married due to tradition they don’t want to be together a child out of lust may not be as nurtured as one out of love she is a prisoner of her own thoughts she’s packed her bag and made up her mind the light in the furnace everything in heaven is fine go to the light his wife is the parasite in his life she’s causing nightmares the woman in the furnace is the woman of his dreams his worm in the box is his dirty little secret you can experience the light and things you want but Henry is attached to his earthly wants the ugliness of the universe shows it’s face if you stay of you give up on your dreams you will become another object to be used someone will come along and steal your thoughts and get paid for it lust not fulfilled baby laughs kill what keeps you attached and you will obtain heaven See more Allison A @RT35810172 9h I think this was a good student film but i wouldnt watch it again because it didnt catch my eye. I also felt like the black and white didn't interest me as well See more Emeka R @RT69448386 1d This is a review for Eraserhead: I thought Eraserhead was a really interesting movie, even if it was a bit hard to fully understand. It’s a very abstract movie that uses a lot of dream-like images and symbolism. This makes the movie feel unique and different from other movies I've seen. While some parts were confusing, I still liked how it creates a strange and unsettling mood that sticks with you. I can see that there’s a lot of meaning behind this movie, even if I didn’t fully understand everything shown. It’s definitely a creative and artistic movie, and I think if I were to watch it again, it would make more sense. I would recommend this for anyone who likes weird, thought-provoking, and cool movies. See more Carlitos .. @RT65213104 4d Eraserhead was honestly one of the most uncomfortable movies I’ve ever watched. The whole thing feels like a nightmare you can’t really explain. There’s barely a normal story, it’s more about weird images and anxiety vibes. Some parts are just straight up disturbing, not gonna lie. I didn’t fully “get it,” but I think that’s the point. It sticks in your head after for sure. See more Austin L @RT95163508 Apr 16 Very weird concept and I wasn't very fond of the lizard baby. The graphics were also awful even for the 70's. See more GAIL B. @RT80523423 Apr 13 It’s on Tubi and watch it a lot. It’s so bizarre. I can’t stop watching it. I have grown to love it! See more Read all reviews
Eraserhead

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Movie Info

Synopsis Henry (John Nance) resides alone in a bleak apartment surrounded by industrial gloom. When he discovers that an earlier fling with Mary X (Charlotte Stewart) left her pregnant, he marries the expectant mother and has her move in with him. Things take a decidedly strange turn when the couple's baby turns out to be a bizarre lizard-like creature that won't stop wailing. Other characters, including a disfigured lady who lives inside a radiator, inhabit the building and add to Henry's troubles.
Director
David Lynch
Producer
David Lynch
Screenwriter
David Lynch
Production Co
American Film Institute
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 17, 1977, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 25, 2015
Runtime
1h 29m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)