‘Dune’ (1984)
First things first: Go watch Denis Villeneuve’s brand-new version of Dune. My colleague Meghan O’Keefe recommended it as a “What To Watch” the other day, and it’s currently streaming on HBO Max (though I would highly recommend making a trip to see it on the biggest screen possible in your area, preferably IMAX). After you’ve done that, turn your attention to David Lynch’s disastrous yet undeniably appealing version of Dune, which he shot in the early ’80s after turning down the chance to direct Return Of The Jedi. It’s messy, sure, and also very dated (the SFX are dreadful), but what it lacks in coherence it more than makes up for in GLORIOUS WEIRDNESS. It’s twisted and, at times, downright deviant, pulsating with kinky sexual energy and punctuated by some body horror imagery that you’ll never be able to shake. I don’t know if I’d describe it as “good,” exactly, but it’s definitely unforgettable. THE SPICE MUST FLOW!