Movies News Talk
Laura Palmer from the venerable TV show "Twin Peaks" had a captivating quality that transcended mere fantasy for the writers. Two actual crimes that significantly affected co-creator Mark Frost of the show motivated Laura Palmer's murder narrative.
The 1908 murder of Hazel Irene Drew was the first crime that really touched Frost. Following Hazel's last seen on July 7, 1908, her body was discovered in Teal's Pond in Sand Lake, New York. The community was dubious about the first decision on suicide since they suspected foul play, particularly considering the finding of letters and pictures exposing a secret life unknown to Hazel's parents.
Both the public and the media attacked the police for their alleged lack of case inquiry urgency. Convinced her daughter is innocent, Hazel's mother publicly declared she would never have taken her own life. With a reward of $1000 for the murder's apprehension, a large sum in 1908, the case attracted major interest.
First learning about Hazel Drew's story, Mark Frost's grandmother, Betty Calhoun, told Frost and his brother ghost stories about the crime during their summer trips to Taborton, a town close by. Frost remembers his grandmother cautioning him, "Don't go into the woods at night," about the eerie presence of Hazel's soul.
As Frost dug further into the case—especially the general indifference toward Hazel's story—his obsession with her grew. Haunted by the sense of "a real person died in that water," he finally shaped his artistic output. A second actual incident—the horrific murder of 14-year-old Susan Freschi, a girl Frost knew well—solidified this inspiration even more. Susan was the sister of one of Frost's best friends and the daughter of his manager. Her death from a crazed young man profoundly affected Frost and strengthened his awareness of the widespread threat of violence against women.
Hazel Drew's case and the Laura Palmer narrative have striking parallels. Blunt force trauma claimed both women; their bodies were eventually dumped in bodies of water. Both cases included a great degree of secret and hidden facets of the victims' life. While Laura Palmer's diary exposed a secret world of relationships and meetings, Hazel Drew's affairs with wealthy men dominated media attention.
Furthermore reminiscent of Hazel's hometown is the backdrop of "Twin Peaks". The creepy, forest environment, the existence of a powerful and reserved family like the Horne brothers, and the fascinating whispers of secret activities reflect the components of Hazel Drew's case. "Twin Peaks" deftly presents Laura Palmer as a multifarious person juggling a double life, much as Hazel Drew did.
By means of Laura Palmer's development, Frost and Lynch effectively questioned the conventional wisdom on victims in crime stories. Laura Palmer received from them depth and complexity beyond the "perfect victim" archetype. Though she has a certain ethereal quality, "Twin Peaks" never loses sight of Laura's human reality, which makes her relevant to the viewers. Laura's narrative reminds us of the very real threats women experience and the need of appreciating their unique life apart from the circumstances of their death.