Iconic Twin Peaks Scene That Still Scares Fans Every Time on Rewatch
Twin Peaks was so ahead of its time that it is still capturing the attention of audiences today, over thirty years later. While it did re-emerge in 2017 for a new season, so far, fans are of the view that it has yet to fully recapture the magic of the original.
The OG Twin Peaks was unique in its plots. Focusing on the murder of a young woman, it soon revealed itself to be about far more than just this case. Bizarre, surreal things start to happen. Things that should not be possible. There are plot twists and turns. There are betrayals. There are shocking acts of violence. It has no shortage of scenes that terrified viewers.
Fans have taken to Reddit to discuss the myriad of horrifying scenes that still give them the chills, even after multiple rewatches. While there were a few strong contenders, such as the parrot revealing Laura Palmer's murder, and Cooper later listening to the recording of it after the parrot is dead. Almost any scene involving BOB, the interdimensional entity ultimately responsible for all the evil in the town could also be said to be a strong contender, given his favourite pastimes are rape and murder.
But one scene stands above all others in terms of sheer horror. That scene is Maddy Ferguson's murder.
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Maddy was the cousin of the ill-fated Laura Palmer; the innocent young woman whose brutal murder sparks the series tagline, "Who killed Laura Palmer?" Suspects were aplenty throughout the show's run, but it was Maddy's murder that finally led to someone being arrested, Leland Palmer, Laura's father.
Maddy's murder was truly masterful in terms of instilling fear in the audience through chilling suspense and gruesome brutality. Fans have commented they are surprised this was permitted to be shown on television in 1991. And there were several factors that all came together to make it truly perfect horror.
Firstly, the scene happened in the Palmer home. Secondly, the victim was played by the same actress who had played Laura, Sheryl Lee. The two characters also share another key similarity: seeing visions. While it is not directly stated in the show, it is extremely likely that both Laura and Maddy saw their murders before they happened, and yet were powerless to stop them.
Maddy saw visions of BOB and a bloodstain on the living room carpet of the Palmer residence. Foreshadowing her own demise, perhaps? It seems clear from her agonising reaction of sheer terror and tears when Leland drags her into the living room is strong evidence that she knew she was about to die in that room.
To make matters even more shocking, the scene is filmed with no sound aside from heartbeats, and the sickening sound of Leland's fists striking Maddy's face over and over. Both Lee and Ray Wise (who portrays Leland) deliver spectacular performances that have you truly believing everything that is happening. The lighting is perfect, with clever use of spotlights to convey Maddy so accurately as being the prey and Leland / BOB, the hunter.
One fan has pointed out how so accurately the scene depicts domestic violence and comments on the awful reality of that even today. That it is so well done, it is almost TOO well done.
Considering all the elements that have gone into crafting this horrifying, yet brilliant scene, it is not hard to see why this is the one, above all others, that still scares Twin Peaks fans witless every time they re-watch it.