Review of Under the Silver Lake (2018) by Al_Dsz — 29 Jun 2019

A movie that tries to fit in too much, but in the end disappoints.

Under the Silver Lake is one of those movies that tries to be something different and outrageous. While it is that for the most part, there are several unsatisfying things about it.

Firstly the movie has too many plots/threads going on, that not all of them connect to each other. And the plots that do tie to each other end up being resolved unsatisfactorily. There are also so many minor discrete details intentionally dropped throughout the movie, that I'm not sure that they exist to convey a meaning or plot point, or they just exist to give the impression of being mysterious and cool.

Another criticism I have of this movie is that it seems to want to pass social commentary on so many different things, but given its a 2 hour film with a specific main plot, the potential for doing this is limited and the commentary signification seems overstuffed and over-ambitious.

However despite these criticisms I still rate Under the Silver Lake as a 7/10. The reasons being the visuals, and directing of this film are amazing. A solid 10 score on that aspect. The movie is supposed to be set in a dream-like Hollywood underbelly version of LA, and it completely feels like that. The whole vibe of the film is mesmerising and you really feel like you are in that dream universe. Also I like the allusions it makes to similar films of the past by which it is inspired (Vertigo, Rear Window, David Lynch films), and the movie is a flattering tribute to those films. The acting on the film is also quite good, with Andrew Garfield playing his character really well (an unambitious 30 something desperately trying to find meaning in his dull life). There are also a few outrageous characters in the film which makes the film unique in a good way.

Overall I would say that the best way to watch this movie is to think of it as a contemporary tribute of classic Alfred Hitchcock films, with a LOT of bizarre elements added in. This would make you less disappointed with the end result of the movie.