Under the Silver Lake (2018)

Last updated:
September 25, 2025

David Robert Mitchell’s Under the Silver Lake is a neo-noir mystery drenched in surrealism, paranoia, and Los Angeles strangeness. Released in 2018, the film has divided audiences—some hail it as a modern cult classic, others find it bafflingly messy. What’s undeniable is its ambition to weave conspiracy, hidden codes, and pop-culture obsession into a dreamlike detective story.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Drifter in LA

The story follows Sam (Andrew Garfield), an unemployed 33-year-old man living in a shabby Los Angeles apartment. He’s behind on rent, obsessed with conspiracy theories, and spends most of his time spying on neighbors or wandering aimlessly. His lack of direction mirrors the malaise of LA itself, with its fake glamour and hidden decay.

Meeting Sarah

Sam’s life changes when he meets Sarah (Riley Keough), a mysterious young woman who lives in his apartment complex. They share a brief but intimate evening filled with chemistry and strange conversation. The next morning, Sarah and her roommates vanish without explanation. Sam becomes convinced her disappearance is part of something bigger.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Sam’s search for Sarah drags him into a bizarre labyrinth of symbols, cryptic codes, and subcultures. He deciphers hidden messages in pop songs, cereal boxes, and even graffiti. He attends an underground party filled with actors, musicians, and eccentric figures, where every interaction seems layered with double meanings.

Conspiracy Everywhere

The movie slowly unravels an elaborate theory: Los Angeles elites are hiding secret societies, sending messages through pop culture, and burying themselves alive in underground tombs as part of a twisted immortality ritual. Sam’s paranoia escalates—whether he’s uncovering real truths or just losing his grip on reality is constantly unclear.

Movie Ending

The climax takes Sam to an underground bunker, where he discovers the grotesque truth: a billionaire and other wealthy men have entombed themselves underground in pyramidal crypts. This ritual, they believe, grants them eternal life, while their wives and lovers join them willingly as part of the bizarre pact. Sarah is revealed to have been taken to join this ritual, entombed alive with a wealthy benefactor in a golden sarcophagus.

Sam manages to speak to her one last time through a video call arranged by the cult. Sarah accepts her fate with eerie calmness, telling Sam she will live “forever” in a sense. Heartbroken yet strangely resigned, Sam leaves.

The film ends with Sam returning to his apartment complex, now stripped of illusions. He sneaks into his landlord’s apartment, where he hides naked on the balcony while watching the landlord (with police present) inspecting his vacated unit. Sam stares blankly, his search concluded, but the mystery of what was real and what was imagined remains deliberately unresolved.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Under the Silver Lake does not feature a post-credits scene. Once the film ends, that’s it—though many viewers linger in their seats, still trying to piece together the puzzle.

Type of Movie

The film is a neo-noir mystery with heavy doses of surrealism, black comedy, and conspiracy thriller elements. Think of it as a strange fusion of Mulholland Drive, The Big Lebowski, and a paranoid 1950s detective novel.

Cast

Andrew Garfield as Sam
Riley Keough as Sarah
Topher Grace as Sam’s unnamed friend
Callie Hernandez as Millicent Sevence
Patrick Fischler as Comic Man
Jimmi Simpson as Allen
Riki Lindhome as Actress
Grace Van Patten as Balloon Girl

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Disasterpeace (Rich Vreeland), also known for his work on It Follows. The soundtrack mixes orchestral noir-inspired themes with eerie, modern tones. Classic pop songs are also woven into the film, often containing hidden codes or symbolic meaning.

Filming Locations

Shot mainly in Los Angeles, California, the movie uses real neighborhoods like Silver Lake and Echo Park. These locations are vital to the story’s tone: the hidden stairways, old Hollywood mansions, and rundown apartments evoke both LA’s glamorous mythology and its decaying underbelly.

Awards and Nominations

Under the Silver Lake didn’t earn major awards but gained a cult following. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival (2018), where it received mixed but passionate reactions.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Andrew Garfield immersed himself in LA’s culture of conspiracy theories to prepare for the role.
David Robert Mitchell described the film as a “personal dream diary” inspired by his own anxieties about pop culture and hidden meaning.
The director hid multiple codes, ciphers, and puzzles within the film, encouraging fans to hunt for “real” solutions online.
The owl’s kiss sequence (a creepy supernatural seductress) was one of the most disturbing elements for Garfield, who admitted it lingered in his mind long after filming.

Inspirations and References

The film draws heavily from:

The French comic book Tintin, in its sense of hidden mysteries.
Classic noir films like Chinatown and The Long Goodbye.
Works of Thomas Pynchon, especially The Crying of Lot 49, with its paranoia and secret codes.
David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet, blending mystery with surrealism.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

The official release doesn’t include an alternate ending, but early cuts shown at festivals were reportedly longer and more fragmented. Some scenes—particularly involving Sam’s voyeurism—were trimmed to tighten pacing.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The movie is not based on a novel but borrows thematically from paranoid literature like Pynchon’s works. The difference is its modern Los Angeles setting, which makes pop culture itself the “text” to be decoded.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Sam spying on Sarah and her roommates before they vanish.
The bizarre party where Sam meets eccentric figures and begins decoding pop culture.
The chilling “Songwriter” encounter, where an old man claims to have written every hit song in modern history.
The owl’s kiss scene—part nightmare, part urban legend.
The bunker reveal, where Sam learns the fate of Sarah and the wealthy entombed.

Iconic Quotes

Songwriter: “I wrote it all. Every hit, for everybody. I am the voice you have been listening to your entire life.”
Sam: “There’s more to life than what’s on your phone.”
Sarah: “Maybe we’re not meant to be understood.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The movie includes real-world ciphers that fans decoded after release.
Graffiti, billboards, and even cereal boxes in the film contain hidden messages.
The dog killings mentioned throughout reference a real unsolved LA urban legend.
The “Under the Silver Lake” zine shown in the movie actually exists in physical form, containing extra codes.

Trivia

David Robert Mitchell originally considered casting an older actor but chose Andrew Garfield to emphasize youthful disillusionment.
The movie was delayed several times before finally releasing on VOD, hurting its box office but fueling its cult status.
The character of the “Comic Man” was inspired by conspiracy theorists Mitchell met in LA.

Why Watch?

If you enjoy mysteries layered with surrealism, Under the Silver Lake is a treasure hunt disguised as a movie. It’s part noir, part satire, part fever dream—a film you can rewatch endlessly and still find new details.

Director’s Other Movies

It Follows (2014)
The Myth of the American Sleepover (2010)

Under the Silver Lake (2018)