Blue Velvet

R

Now Playing

2 hr. 0 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

List

95%

83 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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).

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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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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 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/19/24

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

Alec C

Visceral and disturbingly sensual, this noir is one that leaves you shocked and surprised. Evil hides beneath the surface of this film and comes out and drags you down slowly. We can't avoid the sense of depravity in every scene, so we just accept it and continue on watching.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/17/23

Full Review

Red T

This is a Mixture of a Hitchcock Thriller/Noir with an Art House Film that somehow works and makes an All Time Classic. What's impressive is that as much as it can get abstract with its presentation of events in the story, it never becomes abstract over telling a sharp story underneath it all. It also never jumps around either. We stay entirely focused the whole way on our main characters thoughts and experiences. This makes great use of colors, shadows, and shots are creative but many are just traditionally well framed with great uses of color and surreal acting. There isn't that many crazy camera angles here and when it is it's used sparingly. The acting is excellent while it is over the top especially by Hopper, it never feels surreal. Quite often there isn't much dialogue to speak of at time. But it does a great job of being surreal but grounded in reality and never fully leaving the ground and becoming unhinged. Lastly I will say this is able to masterfully keep you interested while ramping up tension at intervals masterfully. Which is a testament to the smart script and the surreal/abstract visuals keeping you interested in slower parts. This is something everyone should see once.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/15/23

Full Review

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David Lynch

Director

Kyle MacLachlan

Jeffrey Beaumont

Isabella Rossellini

Dorothy Valens

Dennis Hopper

Frank Booth

Laura Dern

Sandy Williams

Hope Lange

Mrs. Williams

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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

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

Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

Frank Booth’s introduction is one of the most memorable in screen history, a clear line where the film shifts to become something far more sinister.

Rated: 10/10

Sep 23, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

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
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
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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