Queen of Hearts: A Twin Peaks Fan Film

The meanness, the nastiness, it really isn't necessary. This was a fan film made by someone with a deep love of Twin Peaks.

The dialogue and scenes are quirky much like you'd expect. Charlotte and Nico's performances really stand out. These two young talents have a bright and wonderful future ahead of them.

Are their technical issues which could be better, yes. Are there scenes that were shot in houses, hotel rooms, and offices which obviously stand out? Yes.

There were numerous technical and personal setbacks the director faced. Despite the odds, he brought his vision to life.

Can you, who mock and deride him, do better with the same equipment and the same budget?

Cameron Cloutier is a better filmmaker than I am, know why? Because he got off his butt and made a movie. Which is more than I've ever done.

There's heart in this fan film.

Queen of Hearts: A Twin Peaks fan film comes from the same place most fan films of any famous property do: an absolute love for the source material. This film centers on Annie Blackburn, the troubled, determined soul that brought light to the final stretch of the original Twin Peaks run. A character underserved by the most recent Twin Peaks story that definitely deserved a story of her own. Annie is plunged into a reality and responsibility she did not ask for, but is compelled to do the right thing when put up to the task.

The film stars many first time as well as seasoned actors placed in the shows roles made famous by Kyle Maclachlan, Heather Graham and many more. While performances are a tad touch and go at first, throughout the film the actors can be seen embodying and interpreting these iconic roles with their own gravitas and flare. The subject matter ranges from comedic and heart warming to dark, traumatic affairs as it dives into the morally grey relationships of the characters before entering their Twin Peaks centered realities. The interweaving stories of Queen of Hearts are treated with extreme attention to detail from Twin Peaks source materials. Rarely a line or notion is out of place, and props are as true to Twin Peaks barring their associated serial numbers. This Twin Peaks is not the Twin Peaks of Lynch/Frost, but they echo through each and every character, line, and frame.

Queen of Hearts: A Twin Peaks fan film serves as exactly that, a fan film. This fan funded, low budget production does not serve to be a Hollywood spectacle, but an intimate, personal story for an endearing audience. Lynch himself has notioned that Twin Peaks is a continuing story. A dream from the dreamer and those who live inside the dream alike. Queen of Hearts was the Twin Peaks dream of one person that decided to place actors and cameras in a room to create that dream. Queen of Hearts is simply one dream in the infinite realities of Twin Peaks, and it was a blast watching those characters and places personified in that dream.

The main takeaway I had with this film was that it was made for the fans. There are no drastic character and story changes which would anger you. There are many fun callbacks that aren't too annoying and in your face. A lot of the acting is surprisingly good for a fan film. It captures the Lynch feel in a way more similar to Blue Velvet rather than Twin Peaks. Most of all, the movie shows you can still make Twin Peaks in 2022. You don't have to make "The Return". As well, the ending manages to make you want more even after the long running time. There are a few flaws though. It works better episodically. The audio is inconsistent. And there are too many musical montages.

But with no sign of any more seasons and the OG cast dropping off like flies this movie is a very welcome entry into the Twin Peaks universe. Plus, you can go back and watch the journey to making the film and feel like you are apart of the process.

What a bold move to take on this dual spire of a story. Annie Blackburn and Caroline Earle, two women at the heart of this story. We also get to explore why such a man like Cooper would have an affair with his partner's wife. All of these characters collide in a huge character epic and it's thrilling from start to finish. Yes, if you're expecting a $30 million dollar production, you may be thrown back by the low budget of this film; though the people who made this clearly went above and beyond what a typical low budget production does. It looks great and the viewer is 110% committed to the story. Really well done and gorgeous.

The film delivers fresh and imaginative content. The actors too represent true essence of original characters under excellent direction by Cloutier. That Cloutier pulls off multiple roles: writer, producer, director, editor successfully, is remarkable. The choice of music, scenes shot at original sites in Washington, sets to pay homage to key original themes such as the black lodge, coupled with believable special effects, transport the fan right back to the mystical world of Twin Peaks, where pacing and tension created by the scenes keeps the fan engaged and craving more! A brilliant fan film.