Review of Under the Silver Lake (2018) by Legitsalt — 28 Feb 2020

Under the Silver Lake is nothing short of an enigma, raising more questions during its runtime than any reasonably timed movie could ever hope to answer. At first glance, Under the Silver Lake may seem to be a messy spew of paranoia and conspiracy loosely held together by a pointless search for a missing girl; however, in many ways, the movie is so much more than that. The world that the film inhabits is one of constant intrigue, mystery, and misdirection. Set in a disillusioned Los Angelos, the movie follows Sam's (Andrew Garfield) journey to gain closure regarding his short interaction with a girl named Sara (Riley Keough). The film is from the perspective of Sam, an unemployed 30-year old on the verge of being evicted. As such, it only provides a limited view of the world which Under the Silver Lake encompasses, one filled with secret societies, rampant killers, and lavish parties. The fact that these things are never fully explained to the audience is not a fault as much as it is a product of the film being told through Sam's eyes. And just as Sam begins to come into a greater understanding of the world's inner-workings, the film ends. The movie is crafted to give the viewer a distant feeling of being lost, to emulate the sensation of being out of place in a greater bustling society.

Aside from the film's mystifying structure, it is also technically just as charming and commendable. From the precision level cinematography to the ever-looming score, the film is constantly reminding the viewer just how good movies can get. There is so much care and effort put into the film's presentation that even after four or five viewings, I still find myself becoming more consumed by the world of the film. The movie may be almost 2.5 hours, but at no time does the viewer ever feel bored or dragged along. It is the fine details, such as single frames of color and sticky notes with seemingly random symbols, that are responsible for the film's longevity. Little things that might initially pass unnoticed, but which get the viewer thinking more about the film's grandiose scope and content. It is easy to see the film's inspirations, most notable the film-noir genre, but the small modern spins that the movie offers are what sets it apart from its contemporaries. The soundtrack by Disasterpeace is one of the best movie soundtracks ever, comprised of deep synths and haunting wind instruments and bleeds through into every aspect of the scene, reminding the audience just how alone and unaware they are. Another notable element of the film is the costume design, filled with little kernels of character and intrigue. The costume design mixed with the set design is what allows for the worldbuilding to be as strong as it is. They define the scope and setting of the film without explicitly stating anything.

Under the Silver Lake is overflowing with enigmas that will never be solved, and they needn't be. The film is a reflection of the modern world and its excess of ideas, information, and conspiracy, most of which lead nowhere. One common complaint about the movie is that it introduces so many concepts, ideas, and plot threads and doesn't ever fully realize them. I feel that this is a purposeful choice done to express the film's purview of reality - in real life, we meet many people and learn many things that we don't fully understand, but this doesn't mean that we have experienced a disappointing life. Under the Silver Lake is a deconstruction of modern society, critiquing celebrity culture, mass media marketing, pop music, cultural relevancy, and so much more. While what it has to say may be obfuscated or not intuitively obvious, it doesn't matter, since this is not the meat of the film or where its value comes from. The film may not be the best fit for every viewer, but for those who enjoy it, Under the Silver Lake is a movie unlike any other, bending genres, redefining expectations, and prioritizing art and content over box office success. If you can watch it, I recommend that you do, and go in with an open mind as you will certainly not expect what you get, and you may end up finding something altogether new and enjoyable.