Written by Leo Castelletta

“Why do we assume that all this information is what we’re told it is? Maybe there are people out there who are more important than us, more powerful, communicating things in the world that are meant for only them and not for us.” – Sam declares to Riki, trying to persuade her- hence the audience- to join him in his nonsensical self-given quest.

Four years after his award-winning film, It Follows (2014), David Robert Mitchell, made a stunning comeback, at the Cannes film festival, with, Under the Silver Lake (2018).During the festival, despite leaving audiences shocked, the film did not manage to garner any recognition, dividing the critics whom either admired the filmmaking or accused the film of being sexist. Upon reaching the US, the film collects a majority of mixed reviews – largely being criticised for its use of male gaze (often labelled as misogynistic and sexist) as well as the ambivalent plot. In my opinion, the latter does not represent the film, although the plot of Under the Silver Lake could be considered convoluted, the under-lying messages that David Robert Mitchell wanted to spread are accessible to everyone. Not only is the commentary on capitalism made crystal clear but also the analysis of modern youth and more specifically their relationship with sex and entertainment. While the action on screen may be chaotic, the messages behind it of the film are easily understandable.

The film depicts the life of Sam, a young unemployed 30s’ something in debt and unable to pay rent. He spends most of his time spying on his female neighbours with binoculars. Sam then meets Sarah, one of his neighbours who he has been spying on. After she invites him in, they both get high and start watching How to Marry a Millionaire. After sharing a kiss, Sam and Sarah are interrupted by her flatmate who drags her outside, resulting in Sam returning the following day. The next day, not only has Sarah disappeared but her flat is completely empty of any sign of life. Sam will then begin a journey through Los Angeles, desperately trying to find Sarah, which he believes is the reason behind something bigger than any of us. He will, through his self-given quest, look in hidden messages made by an elite of the population, extremely wealthy, which have been controlling the pop culture.

David Robert Mitchell is mastering his filmmaking, giving a great filmography that constantly references pop culture. He uses 2D/FPS scenes like those used in platform gaming and animated scenes with an independent comics aesthetic. The filmmaking surely supports the plot, even by giving a meta dimension to the film, inviting the audience to go on a treasure hunt of their own, looking for hidden messages that David Robert Mitchell has hidden within the movie. But most of all the film includes the audience through the performance of Andrew Garfield. The importance of the performance is what supports the film as a whole, Andrew invites the audience to follow his character on his journey, we evolve as he does, we look for the clues and the messages as he does. The story is completely told through his eyes- accentuated by Point-Of-View shots which includes the audience as the main character- we are in this way invited to dive in this eccentric world. Just as Sam, the spectator will be looking for the secret, hidden “Under The Silver Lake”.