There’s not many people left in the world of Twin Peaks. The legends are all passing into the void, including its maker: the one and only David Lynch. Yet, what would Twin Peaks be without The Log Lady? Played by Catherine Coulson, The Log Lady, whose character name is Margaret Lanternman, is the keeper of the secrets in the world of Twin Peaks and her enigmatic presence in the small town cannot be overstated. Her log tells her things, you see, and - as crazy as it sounds – she and her log are never wrong.
The fact remains that Lanternman is crucial to Twin Peaks. It was, in fact, the first character Lynch came up with when he originally began his project with Mark Frost so it makes sense, as we approach the anniversary of her passing, that the actress be celebrated with this documentary.
Directed by Richard Green, I Know Catherine, The Log Lady is exactly that: a celebration of a life lived and fans of Twin Peaks should not miss out on seeing it. If it feels a bit long, it’s only with some of the edits as this one could have been trimmed a bit.
Sure, it is a bit more straight-forward than it ought to be . . . especially considering the history of the character Coulson played, but it doesn’t ever overstay its welcome. And the film is fascinating in spite of its talking heads approach to her life and times, later focusing on just how Lynch got her final performance for Twin Peaks: The Return mere days before she succumbed to stage four lung cancer.
But the film is also a massive celebration of her life. Featuring extended interviews from David Lynch and Mark Frost, I Know Catherine, The Log Lady also focuses on her history as a promoter for Disney and then, as the counter culture took hold in the 1960s, a move to San Francisco to share an apartment with Lynch and Eraserhead star Jack Nance, whom she later married.
And, behind the scenes, her work and influence on Eraserhead is detailed. It is here where the original work on The Log Lady began. Including interviews with Kyle MacLachlan, Dana Ashbrook, Grace Zabriskie, Michael Horse and Kimmy Robertson. The film has been seven years in the making and definitely honors her presence and her overall impact on the Lynchian mythos she is so deservedly a part of.
The film is now playing in select theatres nationwide.
MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 114 mins
Director: Richard Green
Writer:
Cast: Jane Albusche; Jake Bluenote; Kyley Scheier
Genre: Documentary
Tagline: A Life Well Played. A Death Well Lived.
Memorable Movie Quote: "We'll all see each other again"
Distributor:
Official Site: https://iknowcatherine.com/
Release Date: April 17, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Explores Catherine E. Coulson's life and her role as Twin Peaks' Log Lady, featuring interviews and archival footage that reveal her artistic journey and the character's cultural significance.
