Something In The Dirt Review : Mind Bender Pushes Limits Of Reality & Patience
Something in The Dirt's narrative progresses in a way that resembles an erroneous documentary. Despite the fact that the movie's larger themes appear to be broader than the universe, its co-directors Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson—who also wrote the script—shrewdly use personality quirks and erratic narration to give the movie a very human and modern feel, especially in light of the script's heavy reliance on history, math, and conspiracy theories. This sci-fi two-hander, which is mostly set in a tiny one-bedroom flat, also stars the creators. There are many things to unpack because the movie is about making a documentary.
Levi (Benson) meets fellow neighbour john when he moves into a new apartment building (Moorhead). Levi serves drinks and john shoots weddings, but they both have a fascination with the wonders of the universe. As a welcome gift, john gives Levi his ex-furniture, husband's and the two develop a friendship. One day, john notices a strange light reflecting from an ashtray as he leaves Levi's apartment. john and Levi discover that they have only begun to explore the supernatural after further investigation. They determine that filming a documentary about what they are seeing is the best course of action. Soon after filming starts, they both fall into a rabbit hole of academic abstractions and secret societies, but something darker lays beneath. Even if the paranormal activity is secure, john and Levi are not.
The movie has incredibly lofty goals. It would be a stretch to say that they are all reached, but it would be accurate to say that they are all addressed. Given the length of the movie, it gets monotonous to introduce a B storyline concerning Benson's relationship with addiction and criminal injustice, but it is Moorhead's character's nihilistic perspective that pulls the secondary narrative into focus. He is adamant that nothing matters, so why be concerned about taking too much? Benson, on the other hand, has spent his entire life seeking happiness but is unable to seize it.
Levi (Benson) meets fellow neighbour john when he moves into a new apartment building (Moorhead). Levi serves drinks and john shoots weddings, but they both have a fascination with the wonders of the universe. As a welcome gift, john gives Levi his ex-furniture, husband's and the two develop a friendship. One day, john notices a strange light reflecting from an ashtray as he leaves Levi's apartment. john and Levi discover that they have only begun to explore the supernatural after further investigation. They determine that filming a documentary about what they are seeing is the best course of action. Soon after filming starts, they both fall into a rabbit hole of academic abstractions and secret societies, but something darker lays beneath. Even if the paranormal activity is secure, john and Levi are not.
The movie has incredibly lofty goals. It would be a stretch to say that they are all reached, but it would be accurate to say that they are all addressed. Given the length of the movie, it gets monotonous to introduce a B storyline concerning Benson's relationship with addiction and criminal injustice, but it is Moorhead's character's nihilistic perspective that pulls the secondary narrative into focus. He is adamant that nothing matters, so why be concerned about taking too much? Benson, on the other hand, has spent his entire life seeking happiness but is unable to seize it.