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David Lynch Blends Digital and Analog in Nine Inch Nail's 'Came Back Haunted' Video

David Lynch picks up the camera again and delivers more surreal madness.
David Lynch at work on the NIN video, by Rob Sheridan

Since directing the digitally-shot mindbender of a film Inland Empire, David Lynch has turned away from filmmaking and concentrated on his music and art. In 2011, he released Crazy Clown Time, an album of dark, Lynch-brand electronic music. He directed a music video for the title track, but also created videos for Moby's "Shot in the Back of the Head" and Interpol's "I Touched a Red Button." Today, Lynch returned with another music video for NIN's new track "Came Back Haunted."

The video begins with a warning: "This video has been identified by Epilepsy Action to potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised." No word yet if the UK-based Epilepsy Action group previewed and issued a warning on the video, or if Lynch is just having a little fun. Probably the latter.

After the warning, Lynch introduces one of his classic themes: a "woman in trouble." This woman in trouble is fixed to some gas mask-like apparatus in a very welcoming industrial interior. The shimmering black and white visual is interrupted by flickering red squares. A fog is then interrupted by digital lightning bolts. This is followed by a demented-looking Trent Reznor, who resembles, perhaps not coincidentally, Robert Blake's character in Lost Highway. (Remember: Trent Reznor produced the Lost Highway soundtrack back in 1996.)

But, the most interesting visual, for my money, is a digital cloud in the middle of a heavily pixelated room. The cloud is static, but it seems to infinitely bloom. Oh, and there is a lot of oscillation in this video.

Hopefully this is a sign that Lynch will return to movies. If not, well, we'll just have to enjoy the occasional music video, which really doubles as an experimental film.