Bad Karma
Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:22 pm
The recent allegations against Marilyn Manson have made me again think about the fact that, while I love this movie a great deal, there seems to be a tremendous amount of bad karma surrounding several of the players.
Robert Blake, of course, civilly found liable for the wrongful death of his wife, while being (controversially) acquitted of her murder (eerily mirroring the OJ Simpson trials that inspired LH in the first place).
Louis Eppolito (one of the two cops), a real-life NYPD detective who was subsequently convicted on several counts of murder and other charges and died in jail.
Natasha Gregson Wagner, daughter of (the infamously possibly-murdered) Natalie Wood.
Bit-player and Asymmetrical staffer (and Keanu Reaves ex) Jennifer Syme met Marilyn Manson on this film, and apparently died because Manson later gave her drugs at a party then let her drive home. (Mulholland Drive is dedicated to her memory.)
Richard Pryor’s last film.
Jack Nance’s last film.
And now it would appear that Manson’s creepy public persona extended into his private life.
I can’t think of any other Lynch film that has anything approaching this level of behind-the-scenes unpleasantness/baggage. It doesn’t detract from the viewing experience for me, but it does make the film feel even darker in a weird way, almost haunted by something evil.
Robert Blake, of course, civilly found liable for the wrongful death of his wife, while being (controversially) acquitted of her murder (eerily mirroring the OJ Simpson trials that inspired LH in the first place).
Louis Eppolito (one of the two cops), a real-life NYPD detective who was subsequently convicted on several counts of murder and other charges and died in jail.
Natasha Gregson Wagner, daughter of (the infamously possibly-murdered) Natalie Wood.
Bit-player and Asymmetrical staffer (and Keanu Reaves ex) Jennifer Syme met Marilyn Manson on this film, and apparently died because Manson later gave her drugs at a party then let her drive home. (Mulholland Drive is dedicated to her memory.)
Richard Pryor’s last film.
Jack Nance’s last film.
And now it would appear that Manson’s creepy public persona extended into his private life.
I can’t think of any other Lynch film that has anything approaching this level of behind-the-scenes unpleasantness/baggage. It doesn’t detract from the viewing experience for me, but it does make the film feel even darker in a weird way, almost haunted by something evil.