Eraserhead

not often do we see a director come out of the gate fully formed, no roughing around the edges and communicates their ideas, however abstract, thoroughly and effectively. but that is not the case with david lynch.
eraserhead exists in an addictively uncomfortable landscape, one of pipes, industrialism and hellish, almost post-apocalyptic geography. the characters move anxiously and particularly uncannily, like they're being held at gunpoint during every scene. the gorgeous, dreamlike black & white cinematography helps keep this story in a world separate from our own, as it would be neither as effective nor as beautiful if it were in colour, and this is demonstrated perfectly by the opening scene
SPOILERS AHEAD: it starts with the main character, henry (played by jack nance) drifting ominously and transparently in what looks like space, and behind him we see what looks like an asteroid. then my favourite shot in the whole movie comes as we go through a hole in a small wooden box to find a skeletal, chilling figure staring out the window, sitting before levers and cranks. i cannot describe to you the shock and awe i experienced seeing this image for the first time, and going in blindly (as you should with most if not all movies) trying to piece this together with the rest of the film to see how it related to it.
david lynch also paints a perfect picture of how many emotions feel perfectly on screen, such as doubt, anxiousness and parenthood (or so i've heard, because i wouldn't know). what a perfect debut from such an acclaimed director, i cannot wait to get into some of his higher-rated and more well-known films, as i've only seen this and the elephant man, both of which i adored and couldn't get enough of.