Inland Empire is Lynch going full Lynch, but without the restraint that gives his earlier works their coherence. While his films can be enigmatic, they typically maintain a thread of comprehensible narrative that keeps the viewer engaged. Here, however, that thread feels almost entirely severed, leaving the film nearly inscrutable.
The film’s visual style also detracts from its impact. Shot on video, with a distinctly 'early 2000s' aesthetic—evident in the wardrobe, makeup, and overall production—the result feels dated, lacking the…
