desert noir

His exploration of darkness lurking beneath American surfaces, particularly in desert settings like Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, defines modern noir psychology.

His existential alienation and atmospheric desolation in films like L'Avventura create a visual language of emotional emptiness that mirrors desert landscapes.

His Westerns transform the American desert into a morally ambiguous stage where heroism and darkness collide, establishing the visual archetype of desert noir.