Mulholland drive is heavily inspired by the European surrealist movement in 1920-1950s aiming to create films that connected the conscious to to the unconscious mind. The film was also made in protest towards Hollywood through his personal issues with his Mulholland drive tv series being cut weeks into production using the footage made later on when he changed it to be a film, as well as commenting on the me too movement which spread awareness on the mistreatment of women particular within the film industry showing this through Hollywood’s ominous and shady portrayal within the movie itself.