Our yearlong memorial retrospective now arrives at David Lynch’s own least favorite professional experience, tasked by mogul Dino De Laurentiis launching the next STAR WARS-esque franchise from Frank Herbert’s thorny, psychedelic bestseller. Despite its reputation as a creative and financial disappointment DUNE remains a fascinating and worthwhile chapter in Lynch’s filmography, full of eccentric verve and unafraid of the mystical elements (not to mention a certain superintelligent toddler) that would be mostly set aside amid the steely perfection of Denis Villeneuve’s recent take on the same material.

 In the year 10191, a spice called melange is the most valuable substance known in the universe, and its only source is the desert planet Arrakis. A royal decree awards Arrakis to Duke Leto Atreides and ousts his bitter enemies, the Harkonnens. However, when the Harkonnens violently seize back their fiefdom, it is up to Paul (Kyle MacLachlan), Leto’s son, to lead the Fremen, the natives of Arrakis, in a battle for control of the planet and its spice.

“Lynch’s third feature may have been a commercial disaster, but it gets under your skin and is marked by unforgettable images and an extraordinary soundtrack.” – Time Out