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A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily-disfigured and mistreated young man working as a sideshow freak, who gradually reveals his capacity for kindness, intelligence and sophistication. (PG, 123 min.)
7:00 PM
Essential Arthouse 2026
With this poignant second feature, David Lynch brought his atmospheric visual and sonic palette to a notorious true story set in Victorian England. When the London surgeon Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins) meets the freak-show performer John Merrick (John Hurt), who has severe skeletal and soft-tissue deformities, he assumes that he must be intellectually disabled as well. As the two men spend more time together, though, Merrick reveals the intelligence, gentle nature, and profound sense of dignity that lie beneath his shocking appearance, and he and Treves develop a friendship. Shot in gorgeous black and white and boasting a stellar supporting cast that includes Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, and Wendy Hiller, The Elephant Man was nominated for eight Academy Awards, cementing Lynch’s reputation as one of American cinema’s most visionary talents. [Janus]
Starring: John Hurt, Anthony Hopkins, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Freddie Jones
Director: David Lynch
Genre: Drama, Biography
"A marvelous movie, shot in stunning black-and-white by Freddie Francis."
— Tom Milne, Time Out
"This tale of a pure soul struggling to be heard over the prejudice of the many is quite heart-rending."
— Almar Haflidason, BBC.com
"Has the look and texture of an authentic document, elevated by the hand of a artist with a singular vision"
— Dan Jardine, Cinemania
"Tender, wonderfully acted, and profoundly moving, The Elephant Man is a unique ray of sentimentality in David Lynch’s oeuvre."
— Harry Solomons, Loud and Clear Reviews
"The Elephant Man is a memorable film about human survival and a powerful commentary on human exploitation."
— Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
"Lynch's powerful depiction of Merrick (played by John Hurt) moves a viewer from revulsion and fear to empathy and tenderness. That's the very movement of the story itself."
— Richard Brody, The New Yorker
"Understated and masterful in its use of costumes, makeup, and low-budget camerawork, David Lynch's portrait of John The Elephant Man Merrick stands as one of the best biographies on film."
— Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
"Following his startling debut with Eraserhead, David Lynch retained that picture's industrial imagery, unnerving sound design, and oddball atmosphere and layered them over this rich story."
— Matt Brunson, Film Frenzy
