Sublime terror and the gothic in David Lynch’s early short film The Alphabet

The article explores the role of the gothic as a key mode of artistic expression in David Lynch’s early short films. More specifically, it examines the thematic and stylistic choices in The Alphabet (1968) and situates the film in a conversation with his other early short films, arguing that an analysis of their evocation of sublime terror and the gothic is essential for attaining a fuller insight into Lynch’s oeuvre and how his experiments, techniques and strategies form the cornerstone of his subsequent development as a filmmaker.