Twin Peaks: From Z to A Blu-ray Review
In this new Twin Peaks collection, nestled among in-depth archival material from the making of Fire Walk With Me, is something called “Atmospherics.” Similar to Yule Log channels (or horror streamer Shudder’s pumpkin “Ghoul Log”), From Z to A includes 10 meditative, screen-saver-like montages capturing the Twin Peaks aesthetic on loop.
Watch the branches of Douglas fir trees quaking in the wind, as Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) whispers beneath the footage, “What kind of fantastic trees have you got all around here?” Or put in a montage of Twin Peaks locations, accompanied by moody music. They’re hardly marquee features on from Z to A, but little touches like the Atmospherics indicate how much work has gone into making the collection more than an archive. Instead, it’s an experiential companion to Twin Peaks.
The new box set includes documentary featurettes from throughout the series, including an astounding 25 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage for each episode of Twin Peaks: The Return—check out an exclusive video, above, from the “Behind the Curtain” featurettes. The featurettes give extensive insight into Lynch’s directing process and how the Twin Peaks cast members create the series’ unforgettable performances, which combine deeply felt emotion with surreal techniques.
But beyond the standard documentary interviews and production footage, From Z to A also includes more idiosyncratic insights, like the bizarre interview David Lynch conducts at a diner table with Sheryl Lee, Grace Zabriskie and Ray Wise, who respond in character as the devastated Palmer family at the center of the Twin Peaks saga.
The collection is also a remarkable collection for music fans. While the 18 episodes of Twin Peaks: The Return often enfolded musical performances at the Roadhouse into each episode, From Z to A includes the full-length and unedited musical performances, for a sprawling concert movie featuring the Chromatics, Au Revoir Simone, Sharon Van Etten, Nine Inch Nails, Eddie Vedder, Julee Cruise, the Veils and, of course, actor James Marshall singing “Just You” in character as Twin Peaks crooner and motorcycle bad boy James Hurley.
Twin Peaks: From Z to A also includes:
The international version of the Twin Peaks pilotThe Missing Pieces (deleted scenes from Fire Walk With Me)A new interview with Kyle MacLachlan and Sheryl LeeA featurette with Harry Goaz (Deputy Andy) and Kimmy Robertson (Lucy Moran)Special features from previous Twin Peaks releasesA 4K UHD disc with a new transfer of the original pilot, plus the shocking “Part 8” from The Return
It amounts to hours of special features, in addition to the movie and every episode of the series.
Sprawling over 21 Blu-ray discs, From Z to A comes packaged in a cube decorated with the mysterious forests of Twin Peaks’ fictionalized Washington state. Hiding under their dark boughs is the extradimensional Red Lodge, which makes up the collection’s interior. Included is a standee depicting Sarah Palmer kissing Cooper in the Red Lodge, with its black and white chevron floors. From Z to A is designed to be used like an eccentric diorama, complete with 25 five-by-five cards depicting characters and moments from the series, which can be propped up for display inside the open box.
While From Z to A was always advertised as the comprehensive Blu-ray collection of Twin Peaks, with archival and contemporary documentary accompaniment, playing around with the Blu-ray reveals all the strange touches, eccentric art and imaginative angles fans would expect from Lynch himself.
As Lynch said on Twitter when From Z to A was announced in August, “It’s yrev good to see you again, old friends.”
