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Blue Velvet

R Released Sep 19, 1986 2h 0m Mystery & Thriller Drama List
95% Tomatometer 84 Reviews 88% Audience Score 50,000+ Ratings
College student Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) returns home after his father has a stroke. When he discovers a severed ear in an abandoned field, Beaumont teams up with detective's daughter Sandy Williams (Laura Dern) to solve the mystery. They believe beautiful lounge singer Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini) may be connected with the case, and Beaumont finds himself becoming drawn into her dark, twisted world, where he encounters sexually depraved psychopath Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper). Read More Read Less
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Blue Velvet

What to Know

Critics Consensus

If audiences walk away from this subversive, surreal shocker not fully understanding the story, they might also walk away with a deeper perception of the potential of film storytelling.

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Critics Reviews

View All (84) Critics Reviews
Derek Malcolm Guardian Love it or hate it, see it you must. Apr 9, 2020 Full Review David Jenkins Little White Lies Every viewing yields new insights. A berserko modern classic. Rated: 5/5 Dec 2, 2016 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian The film releases a toxic narcosis of fear. Rated: 5/5 Dec 1, 2016 Full Review Luke Y. Thompson ComingSoon.net It was the first time on the screen that [David Lynch's] dark subconscious met, clashed, and contrasted with his all-American Boy Scout personality. Jun 27, 2024 Full Review Savina Petkova A Good Movie To Watch Dennis Hooper stars as one of the most terrifying men on screen and Lynch regular Angelo Badalamenti scores the film with an eerie precision like no other. Rated: 9.2/10 Oct 30, 2023 Full Review Joe Lipsett Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network Daring, provocative and influential, Lynch's seminal ode to the rot that lurks just beneath the surface of suburban domesticity remains as potent today as it was back in 1986. Rated: 4.5/5 Jul 4, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Kitkat M Terrible, cheesy movie with bad writing and bad acting. High reviews are terribly misleading. 😔 Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/05/24 Full Review NiB Y Feels like a Hitchcock movie but on steroids. The acting is amazing from every end; and as expected from a director like Lynch, there's a lot of symbolism and callbacks, all of this combined with the story makes a amazing script; the pacing is also perfect, not a single moment feels rushed or slow. As also expected from Lynch, there's a lot of bizarre moments that are either surreal or just bizarre from the way the characters act, Frank absolutly steals the spotlight here and is a perfect antagonist. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/08/24 Full Review Cole N I had high expectations since many people talk about how influential this movie is. I was somewhat disappointed; it kinda drags on at times, and I feel like the ending left more questions than answers. I do think more could have been done with the plot/characters. It almost feels intentional, as certain scenes subtly symbolize the vastness of what is unknown. We can only imagine what goes on in Ben's house, can only feel what comes up when seeing the curtain sway back and forth, are meant to come to our own conclusions about what the flames represent. Lynch seems has an ability to directly translate the unconscious into film format, which makes these subtle and overt symbols so effective. All of this under the backdrop of an affluent, painfully normal suburban neighborhood. The bizarre, absurd, and uncanny atmosphere makes this a memorable and worthy watch. But, I cannot deny that I became bored at times; its a step behind Mulholland Drive, IMO. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/10/24 Full Review Fred L G A big disappointment and one of the worst movies I have ever watched. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/24 Full Review KB B 95% uhhhhh NOT. This film may have been considered avant garde in the mid 80's but mediocre is mediocre. Dennis Hopper was superb as usual but unfortunately he was severely handicapped by this absurd plot. Someone obviously took some bad drugs and wrote/directed this lame excuse for a film. Watch if you're completely bored and there's absolutely nothing else on. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/23/23 Full Review Daniel F A brilliant and savage mind f*** Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Blue Velvet

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis College student Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) returns home after his father has a stroke. When he discovers a severed ear in an abandoned field, Beaumont teams up with detective's daughter Sandy Williams (Laura Dern) to solve the mystery. They believe beautiful lounge singer Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini) may be connected with the case, and Beaumont finds himself becoming drawn into her dark, twisted world, where he encounters sexually depraved psychopath Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper).
Director
David Lynch
Producer
Fred C. Caruso
Screenwriter
David Lynch
Distributor
Warner Home Vídeo, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Paramount Pictures
Production Co
De Laurentiis
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 19, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 3, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.6M
Runtime
2h 0m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
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