CultFlicks.net

Rating:

Review

Poor fellow Henry Spencer has knocked up Mary X and her insane parents insist that he now has to do the right thing. The only problem is, the baby is a weird mutant sheep thing, incessantly crying and getting a disgustiing cough every ten seconds. Yech!! What’s a guy to do but escape into a fantasy world of, well, imaginary seed pod worms, gigantic sperm, and mash potato-cheeked singing whores? That’s what, I guess.

Reason to Watch

Eraserhead is another cult film right of passage. Before I saw this, I thought movies were movies and art was art, and never the twain shall meet. Eraserhead changed my perspective, all right.

Context

The late seventies is when the midnight movie came into being, and Eraserhead, along with El Topo, is the seminal midnight arthouse movie.

Most memorable quote(s)

• “It’s deformed, but it’s a baby.”
• “Do I just, uh, cut them up like regular chickens?”
• “Did you and Mary have sexual intercourse?”
• “In Heaven, evrything is fine.”
• “OKAY, PAUL!!!”
• “You ARE sick.”

What you need to get through this movie

Having watched this movie in virtually all forms of altered states of consciousness, I think this is going to be the rare CultFlicks movies where complete sobriety is acceptable. It’s weird enough to need all of your undivided attention.

Trivia

• The man who controls Henry Spencer’s brain later married Sissy Spacek.
• The baby was laid to rest in a mock funeral and bureid in an unknown location following the completetion of this film.
• The Pixies covered the song performed by the lady in the radiator.

Educational Content

1. There is no need for a condom because the lady in the radiator will step on and kill your sperm for you.
2. Babies are filled with mashed potatoes.
3. Your future mother-in-law is in love with you.

Justification for Rating

It only misses the full five because I can’t find the 108 minute version.

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