Moviegoers are becoming increasingly familiar with A24 — an American entertainment company founded in 2012 — as its films continue to dominate the box office and earn critical acclaim. In an age where remakes, reboots and formulaic action movies populate the silver screen, A24 amassed a fanbase by consistently releasing films that were … well, different.
For better or for worse, A24 films are memorable. They tend to be experimental, uncanny, eccentric or bizarre. Moreover, they almost always break away from the hackneyed cinematic tropes that seem to populate the silver screen. Whether it be the macabre, black-and-white imagery of “The Lighthouse,” the gorgeous yet haunting cinematography of “Midsommar” or the unconventional storytelling in “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” A24 knows how to release films that either get under our skin or refuse to leave our minds.
However, that does not mean that everything the company touches turns into gold. Sometimes a particular film just fails to connect with audiences and critics.
Such was the case for 2018’s “Under the Silver Lake,” a stylistic neo-noir from David Robert Mitchell, director of the critically acclaimed “It Follows.” The film revolves around Sam (played by Andrew Garfield), an unemployed, socially awkward oddball who becomes obsessed with the disappearance of his beautiful neighbor, Sarah. Sam barrels down a rabbit hole of conspiracies and subliminal codes, desperate to unravel a sinister, hidden plot that may or may not exist.
“Maybe there are people out there who are more important than us, more powerful and wealthier than us, that are communicating things and seeing things in the world that are meant for only them and not for us,” laments Sam frantically while submerged in a bathtub of tomato juice. His girlfriend, clad in a candy-striper costume, stares uneasily at him.
It’s definitely an A24 movie. Bizarre yet memorable.
Box Office Failure
A24 received U.S. distribution rights for Mitchell’s much-anticipated thriller in 2016. Despite the initial hype surrounding it — with a trailer that accumulated 5.1 million views on YouTube — A24 decided to delay the theatrical release on two separate occasions due to its mixed reception at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
“Under the Silver Lake” was released in select U.S. theaters for less than a week before being quietly shooed onto digital platforms. The film, which had an estimated budget of $8.5 million, grossed only $2 million worldwide. Additionally, its IMDb user rating sits at a mediocre 6.5. For all intents and purposes, the movie appeared to be a flop.
Underwhelming or Underappreciated?
“Under the Silver Lake” faded into obscurity after its exceedingly brief theatrical release.
“Maybe this will grow on people, and they’ll appreciate it more years from now,” theorized Mitchell in 2019, “or maybe not.”
Though Mitchell’s neo-noir movie has still yet to receive widespread recognition in 2023, there is a dedicated cult following that labels “Under the Silver Lake” as a misunderstood masterpiece.
While the movie features strong performances, surreal cinematography and a beautifully haunting soundtrack, its complex narrative is what sets it apart. Supported by intricate imagery and purposefully vague dialogue, the plot of “Under the Silver lake” is ripe for interpretation.
YouTube video essays and cinephile Reddit threads tirelessly attempt to unravel the secrets of this bizarre, intentionally convoluted film. Different codes, ciphers and subliminal messages are hidden throughout the movie, making every shot feel especially purposeful.
Therein lies the genius of “Under the Silver Lake.” This movie about secret codes is filled with secret codes of its own, and viewers who witness Sam’s downward spiral into suspicion and conspiracy will soon find themselves falling down a similar rabbit hole. That alone merits multiple rewatches.
Repeat viewings will reveal numerous easter eggs that might go unnoticed otherwise. Each scene can be scoured for clever, minuscule details that were meticulously placed by Mitchell during filming. Vintage movie posters, t-shirt graphics and even bathroom graffiti are all potential sources of information. Cinephiles who enjoy the deliberate, detail-heavy cinematography of Jordan Peele’s movies will feel right at home with “Under the Silver Lake.”
There’s a lot to decode throughout the film, and Mitchel’s refusal to provide straightforward answers only adds fuel to the flames. Many viewers are desperate to decipher the message behind each scene, let alone the entire narrative. Online message boards and YouTube comment sections are rife with theories and debates, but a common consensus has yet to be reached.
It appears that the uncertain theorizing is half the fun of Mitchel’s movie; viewers are meant to feel conflicted and confused. The satisfaction comes after the rewatch rather than the initial watch. This sort of viewing experience won’t appeal to everyone (or even most people), but those who love it are really going to love it.
What Does it Mean? If Anything?
There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to “Under the Silver Lake.” Viewers will become familiar with entities like the Owl’s Kiss and the Dog Killer — unsettling, unseen forces that are never completely explored or explained. The people who interact with Sam (Andrew Garfield) at the highfalutin Los Angeles venue are similarly peculiar and detached. There’s a surreal, dreamlike quality to the entire narrative that causes any interpretation to feel less than concrete.
However, it appears irrefutable that Mitchel is offering some commentary on conspiracies in this film.
“There’s nothing to solve, y’know,” remarks one character to Sam.
Sam becomes increasingly obsessed with unraveling a grand conspiracy as the film progresses, much to the detriment of his personal life. Despite his unemployed status and inability to pay rent, Sam continues to search for answers, and viewers are encouraged to match his enthusiasm. The answers he does find provide little comfort; sure, he’s more knowledgeable, but he’s also powerless to change anything.
“Under the Silver Lake” seems to warn against searching for meaning in the wrong things. Maybe our energies could be better spent elsewhere. In an age where online conspiracy theories are becoming more common, Mitchel might be explaining the futility of searching for answers.
More often than not, there is no greater meaning. Perhaps this sentiment could also apply to the film itself, though many cinephiles would disagree.
Of course, this is just one of the many interpretations of “Under the Silver Lake.” It’s best to watch it for yourself in order to arrive at your own conclusion. Regardless of its lackluster box office performance, it deserves a watch due to its stellar acting, noir-inspired musical score and experimental composition. There’s nothing else quite like it (for better or for worse).
At the end of the day, it’s an A24 film. You can rest assured that, at the very least, it will be one memorable ride.
