Details

Release year: 1977

Storyline

Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newborn mutant child.

Top credits

Directors

David Lynch

Writers

David Lynch

Cast

Jack Nance — Henry Spencer
Charlotte Stewart — Mary X
Allen Joseph — Mr. X
Jeanne Bates — Mrs. X

See all 23 credits →

Did you know

• When production on the film took longer than expected, David Lynch had to sleep in the same room used as Henry's bedroom for over a year.

• Though only released at first as a "midnight movie," a number of Hollywood A-list directors saw the film and were impressed by it. John Waters, whose Pink Flamingos (1972) and Female Trouble (1974) played the same venue, often mentioned Eraserhead as a favorite film, urging viewers to see it. Stanley Kubrick reportedly said the same; this was one of the films he made the cast and crew of The Shining (1980) watch to get in the right frame of mind. Mel Brooks saw it and offered Lynch the chance to direct The Elephant Man (1980); Lynch accepted. George Lucas asked Lynch to direct Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983); Lynch turned it down.

• The enlarged baby's head near the end of the film was made by David Lynch and Jack Nance. It was made in Lynch's backyard where it was clearly visible to the neighbors; they called it "that big egg."