Mulholland Drive is a dreamlike movie from 2001 directed by David Lynch. It follows Betty, a hopeful actress, and Rita, a woman with no memory, as they uncover strange mysteries in Hollywood. One of the creepiest parts is the Cowboy, a man in a big ten-gallon hat who shows up at key moments. He played by actor Chad Everett, known from older TV shows like Medical Center.https://www.avclub.com/r-i-p-chad-everett-of-medical-center-and-mulholland-dr-1798232503
The Cowboy first appears at night on a ranch. He talks to Adam, a director facing trouble with his movie. The Cowboy warns Adam in a calm but scary voice to cast a certain actress named Camilla Rhodes. If Adam does not obey, bad things will happen. Adam sees the Cowboy again later, and it shakes him up. This ranch scene feels out of place in the story, like something from a bad dream.https://lukehoney.substack.com/p/mulholland-drive-2001
Many viewers think the whole first half of the film is a dream inside the mind of Diane Selwyn, played by Naomi Watts. Diane is a failed actress full of anger and jealousy. In real life, her lover Camilla leaves her for Adam. Heartbroken, Diane hires a hitman to kill Camilla. In her dream, Diane turns into the happy Betty, and real people become new characters. The Cowboy fits into this as a symbol of Hollywood’s dark control.https://lukehoney.substack.com/p/mulholland-drive-2001https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/david-lynch/mulholland-drive-derrida-meaning
The Cowboy stands for the hidden powers that run Hollywood. He shows up like a ghost, giving orders no one can ignore. His simple outfit and slow walk make him extra eerie. He adds to the film’s puzzle-box style, where nothing is straightforward. As the dream breaks down, odd figures like the Cowboy push the story toward chaos. He helps show how dreams mix fear and failure in Diane’s head.https://www.avclub.com/mulholland-dr-defined-the-modern-puzzle-box-movie-1798185418https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/david-lynch/mulholland-drive-derrida-meaning
Lynch never explains the Cowboy fully. Some say he is just part of the nightmare that turns Hollywood dreams sour. Others see him as a warning about deals with shady forces. Either way, his short scenes stick with you long after the movie ends.
Sources
https://lukehoney.substack.com/p/mulholland-drive-2001
https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/david-lynch/mulholland-drive-derrida-meaning
https://www.avclub.com/mulholland-dr-defined-the-modern-puzzle-box-movie-1798185418
https://www.avclub.com/r-i-p-chad-everett-of-medical-center-and-mulholland-dr-1798232503
