Walking Towards the Fire: Queen of Hearts, Act Three
Act Three of Queen of Hearts: There is Darkness in Our Futures Past
Cameron Cloutier gave the Twin Peaks fan community a Christmas gift: Act 3 of his Queen of Hearts fan film dropped on Christmas Eve. If you’ve ever wanted the answer to “How’s Annie,” then this is the film for you!
Act One introduced us to the world of Cameron Cloutier’s fan film: a Twin Peaks that has more in common with its tone to Season 2 than to the Return, though story-wise it is nestled between the two (comfortably buttressed by many pieces of Twin Peaks lore!). Act Two introduced not only Caroline Earle but also her complex home life.
Act Three is where the film explores Cooper’s past with Caroline as well as Annie’s journey past Twin Peaks hospital (for sure she needs to get away from that food). Act Two ended by driving home that this fan film integrates not only classic Twin Peaks storylines but also information we’ve learned during The Return. Act Three also demonstrates that Cameron spent a lot of time reading (or listening to) ‘The Autobiography of F.B.I. Special Agent Dale Cooper: My Life, My Tapes’ as it covers important events that shape Dale’s life with Caroline.
After establishing the world in the initial acts, this part of Cameron Cloutier’s saga puts together more pieces of the story. In Act Two, we were treated to more of Charlotte Roi’s riveting Caroline: a funny, smart woman who is both fragile and strong. Her deconstruction in Act Three is a perfect focus for Dale Cooper’s white knight tendencies. Nico Abiera’s Cooper is as engaging and vulnerable as he is brave.
In this Act, we also get more insight into Paul Griffiths Springer’s Windom Earle: much more than we had in the prior acts. Building on the absolute gleeful insanity of Kenneth Welsh’s performance, Springer’s Earle manipulates with silent, watchful delight. The moments he spends with Nico Abiera’s Dale Cooper consistently raise the tension of all the scenes adjacent — and I find myself worried for the future that I know is at hand for Dale and Caroline.
This isn’t to say that Act Three is completely mired in dark subject matter, as Queen of Hearts definitely embraces the absurdist and surrealist humor of the series. Mindy Lee Whitfield’s Diane Evans is also a breath of fresh air in the ever-darkening dream. Diane’s concern and straightforward manner with Cooper give us hope that she can keep him away from the dangers we know his future holds.
Dale Cooper isn’t the only one in danger, as Larry Oblander II’s Garland Briggs presents Annie with a choice that will bring her close to her futures past. Her choice has the ability to change everything.
The Act closes on Annie as she prays, her hair pooled on the pillow behind her like an art nouveau painting.
If you wanted more of Twin Peaks Season 2, then Queen of Hearts: A Twin Peaks Fan Film is worth your time. I’m looking forward to the next two installments about my favorite strange and wonderful place!