(Don't read this unless you want it explained). Fred found out that his Wife had done adult films in the past. She promised him she wouldn't do it again. He can't handle it. He's super stressed out about it and can only feel release through playing jazz and having frenetic sex with his Wife. His behavior freaks her out.
She starts to reconnect with her friendships she had neglected due to her marriage. One of them is a former adult film producer/star with whom she had worked years before. Fred sees her talking to him at the party. Their somewhat over friendly behavior gets Fred really angry. They return home with Fred still seething. His Wife tells him that Dick Laurent wants her to go back to her adult film career. His hatred for her past life explodes in a moment of rage when he murders Her in their bedroom. This is the Woman he loves and married. How dare She dirty them both? He gets arrested and thrown in Jail.
While in jail he reminisces about when he met her when He was younger (as Balthazar Getty), more carefree and when She was still pure in his mind. This is why we see two version of his Wife, One pure and clean the other dark and dirty. The fantasy image he wants to hold onto vs the dirty whore. He has fantasies of killing Dick Laurent too, but he can't because he is in jail. His mind finally cracks and he goes crazy, his mind wanting to only remember the good things, but the truth of the horror of his actions keep invading his thoughts. This is what the Mystery Man is. Truth. The truth about his guilt. This is why he follows Fred whever he goes. Because the Truth of our bad actions will always haunt us. Just like the intrusive video tapes. It could be argued then that the whole movie is Fred sitting in jail stewing in insane grief and guilt, yearning to escape and run free ... down The Lost Highway.
She starts to reconnect with her friendships she had neglected due to her marriage. One of them is a former adult film producer/star with whom she had worked years before. Fred sees her talking to him at the party. Their somewhat over friendly behavior gets Fred really angry. They return home with Fred still seething. His Wife tells him that Dick Laurent wants her to go back to her adult film career. His hatred for her past life explodes in a moment of rage when he murders Her in their bedroom. This is the Woman he loves and married. How dare She dirty them both? He gets arrested and thrown in Jail.
While in jail he reminisces about when he met her when He was younger (as Balthazar Getty), more carefree and when She was still pure in his mind. This is why we see two version of his Wife, One pure and clean the other dark and dirty. The fantasy image he wants to hold onto vs the dirty whore. He has fantasies of killing Dick Laurent too, but he can't because he is in jail. His mind finally cracks and he goes crazy, his mind wanting to only remember the good things, but the truth of the horror of his actions keep invading his thoughts. This is what the Mystery Man is. Truth. The truth about his guilt. This is why he follows Fred whever he goes. Because the Truth of our bad actions will always haunt us. Just like the intrusive video tapes. It could be argued then that the whole movie is Fred sitting in jail stewing in insane grief and guilt, yearning to escape and run free ... down The Lost Highway.