rat infestation

His body horror films explore parasitic and pest-like invasions of the human form, most notably in 'Shivers' where parasites infect and transform a building's inhabitants.

His documentary 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' and narrative works obsess over human vulnerability to overwhelming natural forces, including his film 'Even Dwarfs Started Small' which uses animals as metaphors for social infestation.

His films and series like 'Eraserhead' and 'Twin Peaks' create atmospheres of urban decay and hidden corruptions that infest communities and consciousness like vermin beneath surfaces.