How did David Lynch stumble upon the spirit of Killer Bob in Twin Peaks?
Many film lovers have found themselves reflecting on the impact of David Lynch after his death earlier this year, with his elevated and dream-like worlds existing as truly one-of-a-kind stories that no other filmmaker has come close to.
From the mesmerising puzzles within Mulholland Drive, leading audiences to feel their way through his work and find a meaning that feels personal to them, or his devastating exploration of cruelty in The Elephant Man and the maddening mystery of Blue Velvet, the director forged an entirely unique cinematic language that merges the dark and light through his trippy sense of surrealism yet overtone of hope as his characters try to find their way to the truth.
However, while he might be renowned for his many contributions to the screen, with a dizzying filmography that ranges from his adaptation of Dune to many collaborations with Laura Dern and Kyle MacLachlan, there is perhaps one project that remains as one of the most influential; forever changing television and dismantling our perception of quiet suburban life.
From the opening credits of the first episode of Twin Peaks, it became very clear to audiences that they were seeing something that they had never seen before. From the ethereal-sounding score, in which Lynch worked with long-time collaborator and friend Angelo Badalamenti, to the mesmerising concoction of images as the camera drifts over the sleepy town of Twin Peaks, Lynch immediately drew audiences into the mystery that spanned across several seasons and spin-off films, charting the unpredictable darkness of suburban life and the horrors that life beneath the surface of Laura Palmer’s seemingly perfect existence.
Countless images from the show have worked their way into the history books, whether it be that of a white horse in the middle of Leland Palmer’s living room or the sight of the red room, with Agent Cooper persevering in his hopefulness and search of the truth, despite the many tragedies that keep occurring. But while these images are now forever burned into our minds, many have speculated as to what inspired Lynch to create them in the first place, with one strange story behind the character of Bob that encapsulates his creativity and eternal sense of curiosity.
Bob is an evil spirit that appears throughout the series, sometimes invading the bodies of other characters in order to complete his dark deeds. However, the character was initially born from a happy on-set accident, with Lynch seeing an accidental reflection of Frank Silva in a mirror while filming and deciding to create a new character who would be Laura Palmer’s killer.
Silva first appeared in the pilot episode in a vision of Laura’s; however, his face later only became visible when occupying another human body, being seen in season two when possessing Leland Palmer as he gazes into the mirror, and Bob’s face reflects back at him.
As for the name Bob, Lynch was inspired by a restaurant called Bob’s Big Boy, a place the director ordered his lunch from every day. Many happy accidents have informed the mysteries on the show, with the creation of Bob being one of many that led to the masterpiece that has forever shaped television and Lynch’s legacy.
