“Under the Silver Lake” is a 2018 neo-noir mystery film directed by David Robert Mitchell, known for his work on “It Follows.” The film stars Andrew Garfield as the protagonist Sam, Riley Keough as Sarah, and Topher Grace as Sam’s friend, Allen.
Set in Los Angeles, the film begins with Sam, a young and aimless man, living a seemingly mundane existence in his apartment complex. However, his routine is disrupted when he meets Sarah, a beautiful woman who lives in the apartment across from him. They share a brief but intimate moment before Sarah disappears without a trace.
Distraught and intrigued by Sarah’s sudden vanishing, Sam unravels the mystery behind her disappearance. As he delves deeper into the underbelly of Los Angeles, Sam encounters a bizarre and eclectic cast of characters, each offering cryptic clues and leading him down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories and urban legends.
Throughout his investigation, Sam encounters a series of strange and surreal encounters, including a peculiar old man, a mysterious songwriter, and a bizarre underground party scene. He questions the nature of reality and his sanity as he follows a trail of hidden messages and obscure symbols.
As Sam’s obsession with Sarah’s disappearance intensifies, he finds himself drawn into a web of deceit and manipulation, where nothing is as it seems. Along the way, he confronts his existential crisis and grapples with themes of identity, perception, and the elusive nature of truth.
As the mystery deepens, Sam discovers shocking revelations that challenge his understanding of reality and force him to confront the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of Los Angeles. Ultimately, Sam’s journey leads him to a startling conclusion that will change his life forever.
“Under the Silver Lake” explores the human psyche and the mysteries of existence.
The Other Cinema 