In episode 9, we learn about a mysterious transdimensional place called ‘The Zone’. Though this might have reminded some viewers of Andrei Tarkovsky‘s Stalker (1979), I  believe this is likely a reference to Jean Cocteau’s Orpheus (1950). It is important to remember that David Lynch referenced Cocteau in the 1987 BBC documentary about Surrealist cinema: “In my opinion, Cocteau is the heavyweight of surrealism”.

Here’s what I wrote about Orpheus in my book Twin Peaks: Unwrapping the Plastic (published at the beginning of 2017, but written in 2015): “In 1950, Cocteau shot another film directly based on a Greek myth: Orpheus. In this film, spirits travel from their world to ours through an area called ‘the Zone’. As Heurtebise (François Perrier) leads Orpheus (Jean Marais) into the underworld, he tells him: ‘This is the Zone. It is made of men’s memories and the ruins of their habits’. This Zone is a sort of no-man’s-land between life and death, where time seems to flow differently than in the normal world. One cannot help but notice a certain resemblance between this Zone and the Lodges in Twin Peaks. The two concepts appear indeed very similar, especially when we learn that the way to enter the famous Zone is through mirrors.” (p.23-24)

Another element of Orpheus that I noted in my book is depicted below: the floor in Orpheus’ bedroom of black and white chevrons!

My book contains much more information about the links between David Lynch and Jean Cocteau, especially in relationship with his 1930 film The Blood of a Poet.

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