Scariest Twin Peaks Episode Proves David Lynch Is True Master of Horror

Summary:

• The "Lonely Souls" Twin Peaks episode finally answers the mystery of who killed Laura Palmer and does it in an unforgettable way.
• Lynch's directing style, as well as the actors’ performances, uses cinematography and sound to create a chilling and terrifying atmosphere,.

Twin Peaks, the most cultish mystery drama of 90s, has revealed to the whole world David Lynch’s directorial talent and his unique ability to put suspense and meaningful details in their places.

This series, focusing on the investigation into the strange murder of schoolgirl Laura Palmer, obviously had its horror side, which was not so typical of those days’ television, which has undergone some revolution after Twin Peaks’ release.

In the 7th episode of Twin Peaks Season 2 called "Lonely Souls" we finally acknowledge the name of the murderer. The whole episode leads us to its earth-shattering climax (and the climax of the whole series), which breaks out as the most horrifying moment.

All that time it was Laura’s own father, Leland Palmer (portrayed by Ray Wise), who went under the influence of the evil spirit Bob (Frank Silva). The actors’ performances in the scene of another murder, now of Laura’s cousin Maddy (both girls played by Sheryl Lee) were directed in such an outstanding manner, so that Bob is still considered one of the most terrifying villains in the cinematic history.

Evidently, Lynch doesn’t reveal the mystery straight in the face: in the peak scene we see Leland and BOB continuously swapping places while reaching a frightened Maddy to kill her. Then Leland, remaining under the rule of Bob, performs a slow dance with his dying cousin’s body, as he did with his daughter Laura in their happy past without Bob.

That visual metaphor of a ‘lonely soul”, which had nothing left but the broken heart, soul and mind, was captured in quite a chilling and depressingly frightening tone.

Besides, it’s impossible not to point out the final song of the episode, The World Spins, written by Lynch himself and performed by Julee Cruise, which intensifies the drama of the previous scenes. Lynch’s work with actors, his visual, sound and color correction desicions were made right enough to be inscribed in the television history.

“This show doesn't delve into horror super often in the original run, but when it does, it doesn't hold back,” fairly admitted Redditor StacysBlog in the Lonely Souls review.

Luckily, it doesn’t hold back, indeed, and now we have one of the greatest murder scenes in TV shows’ history and one of the most horror breaks in non-horror material.