Mulholland Drive (2001)

Mulholland Dr. (2001) is a dark, dreamlike mystery from director David Lynch. It begins with a car crash on the twisting road that gives the film its name: a woman who survives the wreck has lost her memory and—calling herself Rita—finds refuge with Betty, an optimistic young actress newly arrived in Hollywood. As the two women search for Rita’s identity, they become entangled in a web that includes a beleaguered director, a sinister casting conspiracy, a mysterious blue box, and the eerie nightclub Silencio. What starts like a noir-tinged thriller gradually dissolves into surreal, often nightmarish sequences where identity, desire and reality blur. Watching Mulholland Dr. is less about getting neat answers than surrendering to an atmospheric experience. Expect to be disoriented, intrigued and occasionally unnerved: the film alternates between tender human moments and hallucinatory shocks, driven by haunting performances (notably Naomi Watts), Lynch’s unnerving sound design and a slow-burn tension that culminates in provocative, ambiguous shifts. It’s a puzzle of mood and imagery more than a conventional mystery—rewarding viewers who enjoy cinematic riddles, psychological depth, and a film that lingers long after it ends.

Actors: Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Justin Theroux

Director: David Lynch

Runtime: 147 min

Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

7.1 /10 87 /100 7.9 /10 7.9 /10