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What should you do if you get into that kind of trouble?

posted 10 years ago by Manifest_12
4 replies | jump to latest

Every time I watch the part where Frank catches Jeffrey coming out of the apartment, and subsequently takes him on the "joyride," I wonder what in the f-ing heck I would do if I were in that situation.

It's like the moment Frank lays eyes on Jeffrey, there's NO escape. Frank can take him wherever he wants, do whatever he wants with him and there's nothing Jeffrey can do about it except risk his life in a desperate attempt to make a run for it in a shady part of town at night.

So what do you do in that situation? Obviously preventive strategies (like not hiding in the apartments of people with secrets to hide, and not walking down dark alleys, etc) would likely let you avoid these kind of situations. But assuming you are caught by Frank and he "politely" offers to take you for a ride with his friends, what do you do?

Do you clam up and play the submissive "Omega" to his "Alpha Wolf", never looking up or saying anything, just letting him do whatever he wants? Do you stand up straight and look him in the eye, in the hopes he'll somehow respect you more for that? Do you silently pretend like you've got 10 cousins in the Russian Mafia by wearing an invisible smirk? Do you just run for it, or let him take you deeper and deeper into the outskirts of town where there's a 50/50 chance he'll rape you, beat the crap out of you, let his friends rape you, torture you, murder you, etc? Do you go for the gun or just shut your eyes and wait until it's over? Do you just resolve to get a concealed carry permit the moment you make it back alive, report Frank to the (crooked) police, or carry on as if nothing happened?

Anyway, at least I now know the correct answer to the question, "What's your favorite beer?"

[–] HumanTheONLyRace 10 years ago

I knew I wasn't the only one, but sad to say, although I thought about that moment, I can't help but revert back to using good judgment beforehand.

So I'll still say, that wouldn't have been me but let's say If I was eager to help the lady, although I wouldn't have found the ear in the first place, my pre judgement still plays a role, I would never have gone to her apt alone, I wouldn't have been alone in that situation, therefore, I would've stood my ground, I.e not be able to be taken, would've been with other capables who could've called the police, or alarm other neighbors or defend themselves as well.

The I g is, he was trying to find out answers and with that comes risk, so if your doing something that involves risks you better be prepared or just don't go to some crazy chicks house alone at all.

There's no answer for what we both thought about but to fold or get taken by choice, he was outnumbered, etc.

The only way would be to be prepared, have four of your capable, logical friends come, duke it out of talk your way out of it b/c your not outnumbered and everyone's capable.

[–] RickyHelms 10 years ago

Agreed. There's no way I would have been in that situation to begin with. No chance. I would have avoided helping Dorothy, so I can't honestly answer your question OP.

Interesting thread, though.

[–] blackfrancisca 9 years ago

I'm not the biggest fan of the movie, but the "joyride" with the "neighbor" is easily, in my opinion, the most horrifying set piece Lynch has ever done.

I would have done the same as Jeffrey – during most parts of the trip. Get scared (he witnessed before what Frank is all about) and mostly rely on looking down, saying "yes", "no" or "here's to you", whenever Dean Stockwell gets funny.

There are situations, like the heineken one, which could never be predicted. Probably everything you say then is wrong, if you have to give an answer to a psychopath.

I still wonder why Frank and his gang didn't kill Jeffrey. Jeffrey gave him a punch, still he was then just beaten up and left behind. They didn't even cut off his ear or something else.

The biggest flaw of "Blue Velvet" was probably the hero moment, in which Jeffrey told Frank to stop beating Rossellini. This sudden braveness, saving the girl alt all cost, was a bit too Hollywood for me.

[–] KingCobra686 9 years ago

I really like how well Lynch can weave horror like this into his movies. That scene was scarier than most horror movies. Most horror movies go way over the top, and instead of being scary it just becomes an issue of whether the hero can outrun Michael Myers or physically overpower the villain.

In the BV scene, its much more psychological and it hits much closer to home. I could easily see this happening in real life if I walked home on the wrong side of town. Its intense because there's definitely some chance of manipulating your way out of it safely, but one wrong move and you're toast.