Quentin Tarantino Opens Up About Why He Hates This David Lynch Movie

Quentin Tarantino once openly criticized David Lynch’s 1992 film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, calling it a disaster and vowing not to watch another Lynch movie for a long time. In an interview with LA Weekly that year, Tarantino said,

“I’m not ragging on other people, but after I saw ‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me’ at Cannes. David Lynch has disappeared so far up his own a* that I have no desire to see another David Lynch movie until I hear something different.”*

Tarantino added, “And you know, I love him. I loved him,” showing that his anger was aimed at the film rather than Lynch personally.

At the time, Fire Walk With Me was met with harsh criticism and confusion, even though Lynch had intended it to be a polarizing and daring story, and Tarantino agreed with this.

The 1992 prequel to the Twin Peaks TV series explored the final days of Laura Palmer and offered a darker, more intense look at the town’s secrets. Many critics were extremely negative.

Vincent Canby of The New York Times described the film as inducing “a state of simulated brain death.” Rita Kempley of The Washington Post criticized it as “a perversely moving, profoundly self-indulgent prequel” with overly heavy religious imagery.

Other reviewers, like Dave Kehr and Owen Gleiberman, called it simplistic and disjointed, while Janis Froelich described it as “trauma cinema” that dishonored the story of the series.

Some critics offered slightly less severe reviews. Todd McCarthy of Variety said the prequel felt unnecessary, pointing out that viewers already knew key plot points. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote that Lynch’s control faltered but remained hopeful about his future work. Michael Wilmington of Los Angeles Times noted the film wasn’t superior on its own but still acknowledged its cultural impact.

A few critics defended the film at the time. Steve Erickson of LA Weekly praised Laura Palmer’s story as “remarkable and disturbingly authentic” and criticized the film community for rejecting its boldness, calling it “radioactive waste” simply because of its dark audacity.

British critics were somewhat more favorable, with Kim Newman of Sight & Sound and Jeff Dawson of Empire acknowledging its daring style and depth. Even some, like Barry Norman of the BBC, admitted that while initially frustrating, the movie began to make sense after repeated viewings.

Over time, the perception of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me shifted dramatically. What was once considered a failure has been reassessed as one of David Lynch’s most powerful and haunting works, praised for its psychological intensity and innovative storytelling. Critics and fans alike now view it as a landmark in Lynch’s career.

Tarantino’s early reaction highlights how even respected filmmakers can misjudge bold, unconventional movies. Fire Walk With Me serves as a reminder that initial reviews don’t always capture a film’s long-term impact.

What do you think about Quentin Tarantino’s early criticism? Did he misjudge the movie, or was it understandable at the time? Share your thoughts in the comments.