There are few shows out there that have enjoyed the longevity and cult appeal that Twin Peaks has, quickly becoming a quintessential ‘watercooler’ show when it first aired back in 1990. Following the death of beloved high-schooler Laura Palmer in the small Washington town of Twin Peaks – and the investigation that ensues – the show in its various forms is arguably the magnum opus of David Lynch.
Part of what makes Twin Peaks so special is how it handles its obscure mix of drama, comedy, mystery and horror. In fact, despite its cozy, small-town feel, the show could be truly terrifying on occasion. These are the 10 scariest moments in Twin Peaks, ranked.
The Cliffhanger - "Beyond Life And Death"
While perhaps not exactly a terrifying moment when compared to some of the series’ more disturbing sequences, the cliffhanger that comes at the end of Twin Peaks’ second season stuck with audiences for over twenty-five years until the show was revived in 2017.
After rescuing Annie Blackburn from the malevolent, otherworldly Black Lodge, it soon appears that Agent Dale Cooper is possessed by the evil entity BOB – whose cruel actions kicked off the events of the whole show. Cooper rams his head into the bathroom mirror, laughing and repeatedly asking the question, “How’s Annie?” as blood trickles down his face.
Sarah's Bar Fight - "We Are Like The Dreamer"
What exactly happened to Sarah Palmer in the 25 years following Twin Peaks’ second season remains something of a mystery, though her unsettling actions in the show’s third season indicate that it’s likely not good.
After being hit on at a bar during the season’s fourteenth episode, Sarah shows a truly terrifying side of herself, seemingly possessed by one of the malevolent entities at the forefront of the show’s mythology. Removing her face to reveal a black mass with a grotesquely wide smile, Sarah savagely tears the man’s throat out with her teeth, before leaving the scene without suspicion. One of The Return’s most unexpected and brutal turns, it seems the show isn’t done torturing the long-suffering Sarah Palmer just yet.
Maddy Sees BOB - "Coma"
If there’s one strange talent David Lynch brings to the episodes of Twin Peaks he directs, it’s juxtaposition. Able to balance cheesy melodrama, comedy and horror in a way that feels organic and in keeping with Twin Peaks’ tone, there’s no better example of this than the second season’s premiere episode.
Following a scene in which James, Maddy, and Donna gather round a guitar to sing a corny love ballad, James and Donna leave the room, leaving Maddy alone. At this point, Maddy suddenly sees the sinister entity BOB behind the couch, who quickly scales the furniture and lunges towards her – acting as the first indication that BOB has now set his sights on Maddy.
The Woodsman's Rampage - "Gotta Light?"
Widely regarded as the best episode of Twin Peaks’ divisive third season, “Gotta Light?” delivers horror in spades. Providing a nightmarish abstract look into the show’s wider mythology, the episode is pure, unfiltered David Lynch.
In one particularly unsettling sequence, several acolytes of the show’s central sadistic force descend upon a small town, infiltrating a radio station, asking its workers if they “gotta light?” before viciously slaughtering them. After this, they proceed to broadcast a hypnotic message on repeat in a scene that goes on for an uncomfortably long time.
Invasion - "Gotta Light?"
Another moment from the fantastic “Gotta Light?” isn’t for the faint of heart. After a nuclear bomb is tested in the New Mexico desert in 1945, a grotesque creature resembling a toad-cricket hybrid hatches in its wake.
Crawling its way towards a young girl’s bedroom, the large creature manages to force its way into the sleeping girl’s mouth. After the episode aired, it was quickly theorized that this girl was Sarah Palmer, which was later confirmed by Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier, a follow-up book to the series.
The Box - "My Log Has A Message For You"
Kicking off the events of Twin Peaks’ long-awaited third season in style, the revival’s initial episode treated fans to a much more visceral version of Twin Peaks than they’d ever seen before. The episode introduces the short-lived character of Sam Colby – whose job it is to watch over a mysterious glass box surrounded by cameras to see if anything interesting materializes.
One night, Sam invites a woman into the room with him, and as the two take their eyes off the box, a malevolent black shade appears, breaking free from the box and tearing the pair to shreds.
Ronette Remembers - "May The Giant Be With You"
While Laura Palmer has become a well-known character in the pop culture lexicon thanks to the compelling mystery surrounding her death, many people seem to forget that there was another poor soul with her that night – Ronette Pulaski.
Surviving the encounter with BOB and briefly falling into a coma in Calhoun Memorial Hospital, Ronette has a flashback to the night of her ordeal in the show’s eighth episode, giving the audience a horrifying insight into BOB’s murder of Laura. The scene is seriously unsettling thanks to some fantastic direction from Lynch, with BOB’s maniacal laugher adding weight to an already-disturbing sequence.
Laura In The Black Lodge - "Beyond Life And Death"
It should come as no surprise that the Black Lodge – the dark realm at the center of Twin Peaks’ mystery – holds some of the creepiest, most captivating scenes in the show’s history. This is no better exemplified than in the second season’s final episode when Agent Cooper attempts to rescue Annie Blackburn from the Lodge.
On his journey through the Red Room, Cooper encounters multiple horrifying sights, including Killer BOB himself and an evil doppelganger of himself. The sequence’s most hair-raising moment comes when he sees a white-eyed Laura Palmer, who lets out a blood-curdling scream as she inches towards him – lights strobing the entire time.
Laura's Revelation - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
The highly underappreciated prequel movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me contains some of the most affecting moments the series has to offer. Whereas the show’s scares focus more on supernatural forces and violent murder, there’s something much more grounded and real about Fire Walk With Me’s most upsetting moments, despite their connection to the supernatural.
In one particular scene for instance, BOB enters Laura’s room through her window and begins to assault her. As she struggles and resists BOB’s advances, it’s revealed that BOB is inhabiting her father, putting their odd, strained relationship in a terrifying perspective.
Maddy's Death - "Lonely Souls"
The murder of Maddy Ferguson in the seventeenth episode of Twin Peaks is one of the quintessential Twin Peak twists, coming alongside the revelation that Laura Palmer’s killer is Leland – her supposedly loving father.
Intercutting between The Roadhouse and the Palmer home as Julee Cruise’s ethereal score plays in the background, the Giant begins to warn Cooper of Maddy’s impending death, stating that “it’s happening again”. Unfortunately, Cooper is unable to decipher the Giant’s message, and Maddy is brutally murdered by BOB in what easily stands out as Twin Peaks’ most haunting sequence.