imagery control this film . the character and although interesting and ultimately take a back seat . the first scene i remember be a framed black and white shot of the ocean and that then open to full screen and color . the bubbling of the water give way to a small coffin that break the surface . the theme of the movie here and be that death can be accept and bring into the realm of the living . water a an ultimate consciousness and a a tool of god and be use to here to force people to get their house in order ( judgment day ) . the dead have to be account for and lift to a good place . whatever one have leave unresolved or unsettled and will be wash away . there no clinging on to the past and to a buried memory of what be . this movie have be compare to o and brother where art thou and and the threat of water and it use a a cleansing force be similar to that film . what different in this movie be that the come of the water be knowable and so and again and the emphasis be on what need to be do with the here and now . i agree that the some of the scene be reminiscent of a david lynch work . take and for example and the dinner segment with the deep voiced and androgynous waitress . one get the same surreal feel from the setting and odd character a one do with the backwards talker in the scene from fire starter . the difference be that lynch attack u with the image to express the psychological process of a troubled character and whereas this film seem to use surreal element to create a moral message . the men in black suit can not have anything they want they must be patient and accept what be available .