David Lynch's second film, The Elephant Man, is the tale of a disfigured man in 19th century london. The man got his surname "elephant man", not by looking similar to an elephant, but because an inncident with an elephant caused his deformities. A young Anthony Hopkins plays the rule of Dr. Treaves who rescues the 'elephant man' from his former 'master' who beat him and displayed him as a freak in a freak show. The Elephant Man firmly fotified Hopkin's career in acting.
The black and white 80's film is reminescent of Tom Browning's Freaks, which I reviewed not long ago. Some scenes look almost identical between the films. The film is undoubtedly labeled as "disturbing" by some, as was Lynch's previous movie, Eraserhead. Some even think of The Elephant Man as a competent version of Eraserhead. Elephant Man contains the same machinery and rumbling type sounds that seem apparent throughout much of Lynch's work, most notably in Eraserhead.
The Elephant Man is a great movie, a forgotten classic, as it were. I highly recommend it, especially if you are a fan of Lynch.
4 1/2 stars
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