A woman regains consciousness after a car crash in Mulholland Drive on the outskirts of LA. Suffering from amnesia Rita is befriended by aspiring actress, Betty. Together they search for her true identity in unscrupulous Hollywood. And just when you think you know where the plot is going, that enthusiastic amateur detective Betty will triumphantly discover who Rita really is, we enter a different reality.

With Lynch in charge we know we can expect a blackly funny, nightmarish vision of America. Our memories of Twin Peaks resonate throughout the film as bizarre events unfold accidental shootings, fatal car crashes, stark violence against women. But somehow the blackness is leavened by the directors dreamy, humorous touch. Lesbian sex scenes are laced with wonderful dialogue, the score transports us and Naomi Watts gives a knock out performance.

It has an extraordinary atmosphere, a loopy, spacey persuasiveness. Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

It shares that film’s (Blue Velvet) audacity and vigor, and it holds us, spellbound and amused, for all of its loony and luscious, exasperating 148 minutes. Edward Guthman, San Francisco Chronicle

A wonderfully stylish film, the score is incomparable, and the first two-thirds border on brilliant. But I despise with a white-hot passion what Lynch did with the ending. James Berardinelli, Reel Views