cover photo courtesy of Seattle Video Productions
Author: Gracie Cole
Last year, I began my journey with Kyle MacLachlan – or more so his filmography – and like most people, I first saw him in Twin Peaks as Special Agent Dale Cooper. Enamored by his performance and fascinated by his frequent collaborations with director David Lynch, I decided to watch his other starring roles. I first watched Dune (1984), which was interesting, to say the least, but MacLachlan brought heart to the character of Paul Atreides, especially for being his first role. I followed this up with Blue Velvet (1986) and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), both of which are more classically Lynchian. For more about my thoughts on these films, I wrote an article last year reviewing Lynch’s seven biggest films.
MacLachlan returned to the public eye this year in particular due to his role in the Prime Video original Fallout, his association with Charli xcx’s hit album Brat, and the reprisal of his role as Riley’s dad in Inside Out 2 (2024).
Photo courtesy of @charli_xcx on Instagram
While I have been following McLachlan for some time, both through viewing his filmography and by following him on Instagram, I never expected to watch one of his films with the actor himself in the room.
On October 30, less than a week after attending Sweat Tour, I went to SIFF Downtown to catch a screening of The Hidden (1987), directed by Jack Sholder and starring MacLachlan. While the event was advertised as the screening followed up with a Q&A, it turned out to be far more than that. After buying a drink, two packages of candy, and SIFF’s classic chocolate popcorn, my boyfriend and I settled into our seats in the second row, eager for the event to start. The theater was packed and full of chatter about Twin Peaks, Brat, and what to expect. After the standard trailers advertising other SIFF events played, trailers of MacLachlan’s films appeared, inciting laughter, applause, and cheers when personal favorites came on screen.
As the trailers came to an end, MacLachlan was introduced and brought onto the stage in front of the screen. He walked out waving to the crowd, dressed in tennis shoes, jeans, and a puffer jacket over a hoodie, aptly representing the Pacific Northwest. He was presented the John Hartl Pacific Northwest Spotlight Award by The Seattle Film Critics Society before briefly speaking about the importance of Washington to him, as he was born in Yakima and later grew up in Seattle. He also shared about the importance of film critics and how film journalism helped him grow as an actor. After accepting his award, he stood at the side of the room to join us in watching The Hidden.
Going into the screening, I didn’t know what to expect, other than the fact that MacLachlan was in the film, so I sat back in anticipation and ate my chocolate popcorn. The film follows Lloyd Gallagher (MacLachlan), an FBI agent who is investigating a string of people who suddenly turn violent, as he suspects that something otherworldly is the cause. Combining fast-paced action with awkward interactions between characters, the film is fun and endearing. Having MacLachlan in the room was particularly special, as the frequent response to a plot twist or a humorous scene was to look at MacLachlan to see his reaction. While he was in attendance for his award as well as the subsequent Q&A, it felt really nice that he chose to watch the film with us.
After the film ended and the lights came back on, MacLachlan returned to the stage and was met with thunderous applause. He made some jokes about the film before settling into a seat across from the interviewer. They initially talked about his relationship with the Pacific Northwest and how he got into the film industry. He talked about attending the University of Washington and how he was able to connect with David Lynch for Dune. The conversation then evolved to a discussion about the future of his career and the possibility of another Twin Peaks season. He responded with a message of hope, saying that he would always be interested in “returning to the world of Twin Peaks” despite feeling as though he never left.
After answering the prepared questions, MacLachlan left the stage after a standing ovation. Upon leaving the theater, we were given stickers that read “movie” on a lime green background, mimicking the iconic Brat album cover and paying homage to MacLachlan’s connection to the album. Ultimately, I had an amazing time both watching The Hidden and hearing Kyle MacLachlan talk about his experiences in the film industry as well as the PNW.
Kyle MacLachlan’s newest project, Fallout is streaming on Prime Video. Watch the trailer here.
Gracie Cole I KXSU Arts Writer and Editor