Shot on high-definition video, Lynch's twisted, disturbing, often puzzling Hollywood fable immerses us in a bizarre nightmare world as grim reality melds with even grimmer fantasy. Dern anchors the film in a role that requires her to assume the identities of several very different characters. With its lost-in-the-funhouse feel and almost hallucinogenic sense of dread, even at three hours long, "Empire" is consistently compelling, and often downright terrifying. Hang on — this is Lynch at his weirdest and best!