The name David Lynch typically calls to mind dark, surreal depictions of dreams and fears. From Eraserhead to Twin Peaks: The Return, Lynch has masterfully crafted worlds that force us to consider what might happen if our nightmares came to life. For the most part Lynch seems loyal to his motifs, but there are a few cases in which he follows a more straightforward story — Elephant Man, The Straight Story, and the romantic black comedy Wild at Heart. Lynch films tend to age like a fine wine, initially receiving negative responses from critics and later becoming cult classics. Wild at Heart was no exception upon its controversial win at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival, but I’m inclined to agree with the jury: this film is one you can’t miss.
Based on the 1989 novel of the same name, Wild at Heart stars Laura Dern as Lula, an energetic Southern belle, and Nicholas Cage as Sailor, an Elvis caricature with a criminal background. Lula and Sailor are separated by prison bars after Sailor is arrested for murder (although technically in self defense), but nothing can separate these lovestruck hooligans once Sailor is up for parole. Lula’s mother Marietta (Diane Ladd) decides to take matters into her own hands by hiring two hit men to kill Sailor, so the couple goes on the run. As they venture on a cross-country odyssey they run into no shortage of violence, from a fatal car crash to a robbery gone wrong. Things take a turn for the worst when Sailor joins forces with gangster Bobby Peru (Willem Dafoe), and it seems as though the sun has set on this magical, thrilling romance.
This film is melodramatic to the core, but don’t mistake this for a bad thing. The soap opera acting of Cage and Dern is delightfully over-the-top, as are the side characters. Lynch has a way of distilling a character to their essence, the isolated thing that makes them unconventional, and Wild at Heart expertly shows how this can be utilized to elicit every emotion. There were moments in the film that made me tense or uncomfortable, but there were also moments that made me laugh out loud. Then, there were moments like Lula and Sailor stopping on the side of the road to dance to thrash metal: goofy, perhaps unrealistic, but sincere. Despite Lula and Sailor living in a world entirely built around extremes, their love feels genuine. When Sailor returns from more time away, he initially rejects the idea of returning to Lula, but after a fight and a Wizard of Oz hallucination, hops over traffic to get to Lula, finally able to sing to her again. Therein lies the charm of Wild at Heart: tragic backstories, traumatic experiences, and rash decisions amplify the chaos surrounding this couple, but they can tune it all out through their love. In this film, every feeling is a grand gesture. Whether it’s the eerie feeling that something is about to go horribly wrong or the rush of being reunited with your soulmate, Lynch makes it feel as though we are witnessing the full range of human emotions in a two-hour trek across the southern U.S.
Not only is the film entertaining to watch because of the characters and plot, but it is stylish as hell. If I wasn’t already enthused by the melodrama, Cage’s snakeskin jacket and pop culture references were sure to hook me. Laura Dern’s fabulous 80s rocker outfits, a jazz-rock soundtrack by Angelo Badalamenti, and the stunning usage of color are just as aesthetically pleasing. Lynch himself described the film as “a picture about finding love in Hell,” and also described it as “truthful in some way.” Although it may be campy, Wild at Heart shows that in a world filled with violence and disaster, real love is still out there. Sailor’s willingness to fight for Lula, and her unconditional loyalty to him, are the bright spot in a story that should end terribly. The dynamic between all of the characters is what drew me in — between Sailor’s bluntness, Lula’s passion, Bobby Peru’s predatory nature, and Marietta’s lost grip on reality, the film also reminds us that sometimes humanity really can be absurd. This is the truth that Lynch describes, found under layers of comedy and fear, juxtaposed against one another with a heavy dosage of style. The film is just as Lula describes the world: “wild at heart and weird on top.”
Wild at Heart can also be categorized as a road movie, and I believe it’s a ride everyone should take. For those who are already familiar with Lynch’s work, there will be plenty of familiar faces, such as Grace Zabriskie, Sherilyn Fenn, and Harry Dean Stanton. If you’re new to the director, however, this film is the perfect introduction to his particularly strange method of storytelling. Unfortunately the film isn’t available to stream, but if you can get your hands on a physical copy it is absolutely worth the watch.
“If you are truly wild at heart, you’ll fight for your dreams”
