Mystery Man?

Discussion of Lost Highway

Moderators: Brad D, Annie, Jonah, BookhouseBoyBob, Ross, Jerry Horne

Post Reply
User avatar
Buck's Student
Roadhouse Member
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:59 am

Mystery Man?

Post by Buck's Student »

While watching the Mystery Man last night, I got a strange notion. What if he was Bob? He got into Fred's house because "he invited him", just like Leland in Twin Peaks. Then, Fred proceeds to murder his wife.

Any thoughts?
User avatar
gavriloP
RR Diner Member
Posts: 145
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:24 pm

Re: Mystery Man?

Post by gavriloP »

I feel that they are similar, but there is one difference. Or should I say that his character is evolved from Twin Peaks, through FWWM. While in Twin Peaks BOB is clearly demonic force that is responsible for Leland's evil deeds while he is just another victim. During FWWM Leland is showed to participate the action and being at least partly responsible. He also has remorse and quilt. And he says that he always thought that Laura knew it was him. When we get to Lost Highway, this demonic character has diminished completely to a figment of Fred's imagination, meaning that it is Fred who is 100% responsible. It is Fred's subconscious that creates this Mystery Man as it is incapable of admitting that he himself is the source of his evil and darkness and not some outside force. When we get to this, it links also Frank Booth from Blue Velvet to this. As Lynch have said, we ourself have this Frank inside us.

This in no gospel, though, just my personal opinion.
User avatar
SMILLSOID
Roadhouse Member
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:34 am
Location: Wolverhampton
Contact:

Re: Mystery Man?

Post by SMILLSOID »

To me, the Mystery Man is not imagined - he is a spirit from the Black Lodge. But this interpretation requires that you believe that all of Lynch's films from the Twin Peaks pilot onwards are set in the same universe. There is a strong argument for this, which my wife is working on!
The Stanley Kubrick Forum - http://stanleykubrick.yuku.com
Face In The Leaves
Roadhouse Member
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:48 am

Re: Mystery Man?

Post by Face In The Leaves »

I say! I thought I recognised your name from the Kate board.
User avatar
SMILLSOID
Roadhouse Member
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:34 am
Location: Wolverhampton
Contact:

Re: Mystery Man?

Post by SMILLSOID »

Face In The Leaves wrote:I say! I thought I recognised your name from the Kate board.
No - that's my Evil Doppelganger from the Black Lodge.
The Stanley Kubrick Forum - http://stanleykubrick.yuku.com
User avatar
perno
Roadhouse Member
Posts: 72
Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:19 am
Location: France
Contact:

Re: Mystery Man?

Post by perno »

Is Mystery Man Bob ? No. But he's certainly a relative.

I like to see Bob as the personnification of Anger and Lust (well... mostly Lust).
To me, the Mystery Man is the personnification of Jealousy. I don't know if he comes from the Black Lodge but in this case, there are some other deadly sins that could be personnified by Lynch. :)

Whatever... To me, neither Bob nor the Mystery Man exist.
The whole Twin Peaks story and the whole Lost Highway one could be explained without them. They're just creation of the human mind (not only the Leland/Fred's one) to justify the horor we commit/see in our today's life.
I epoh uoy nac dnatsrednu ym hsilgnE.
Post Reply