Eight years after its initial release, David Robert Mitchell's neo-noir satire Under the Silver Lake has arrived on the free streaming service Tubi. The film, which playfully satirizes the tropes of the paranoid conspiracy thriller, stars Andrew Garfield as Sam, a directionless 30-something living in Los Angeles.
Sam's life takes a turn when his neighbor Sarah, played by Riley Keough, disappears along with a billionaire named Jefferson Sevence. Despite facing eviction, Sam becomes consumed by a bizarre quest to uncover a supposed conspiracy, interpreting dubious codes, treasure maps, and coincidences as interconnected subliminal messages. The film leaves viewers questioning whether Sam's obsessive pursuits are grounded in reality or merely the product of an isolated and disillusioned mind.
Subverting the Genre
Under the Silver Lake shares thematic similarities with Something in the Dirt (2022), a film that blends cosmic horror with the descent into conspiracy theories. While both films explore the madness of connecting seemingly random dots, Something in the Dirt offers commentary on shared delusion stemming from isolation or trauma. In contrast, Under the Silver Lake is more absurdist and incoherent, drawing parallels to the surreal style of David Lynch's Lost Highway (1997) and Mulholland Drive (2001). The film frequently winks at the audience, highlighting the absurdity of Sam's actions, such as decoding cereal box maps or engaging in pretentious conversations with a zine author.
Existential Undercurrents
Critics have often pointed to Sam's journey as being long and potentially indulgent, mirroring the meandering nature of the subject it satirizes. However, the film's clever use of pop culture references, from old Playboy issues to Nintendo Power magazines, creates a faux-conspiracy that feels witty and subversive within the context of Sam's increasingly paranoid worldview. Beneath the surface of his investigation, Sam is grappling with an existential crisis, attempting to impose meaning on a non-existent mystery to make sense of his own life. Mitchell's film critiques the human urge to escape reality through elaborate conspiracies, ultimately suggesting that the absence of straightforward answers can be the point.
The film also uses Sam's obliviousness to his own flaws and ingrained misogyny to comment on out-of-touch nihilism. This hypocrisy is woven into the narrative without making Sam a mere caricature, acknowledging the human tendency to seek grand make-believe narratives rather than confronting painful realities.
Enduring Relevance
Nearly a decade after its release, Under the Silver Lake resonates more strongly in an era where decoding hidden clues and turning coincidences into evidence is commonplace. Mitchell's film serves as a somber warning rather than just a tangled mystery. Whether perceived as a brilliant satire or an indulgent narrative, the film's ability to provoke thought makes it a standout among conspiracy thrillers. Under the Silver Lake is currently streaming on Netflix.