Sundance 2022 Film Festival Premiere – Over the last few years, DIY duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead have amassed a loyal fanbase. Their films push the limits of moviemaking while tackling some heavy philosophical issues, like simulation theory and the possibility of other dimensions. Their latest, Something in the Dirt, is the most contained of their features, in large part due to the pandemic. But in some ways, it’s also their most experimental in terms of the multitude of ideas it introduces, sometimes too many to count.

Benson plays Levi, a LA bartender who moves into a dumpy apartment. He befriends John (Moorhead), a wedding photographer. Soon, weird stuff, and I mean really weird stuff, occurs in Levi’s apartment. A broken ashtray floats. The old TV turns on and off. A radio station crackles and tunes into the AM station 1908, a number that reoccurs throughout the film. Bright lights flash. None of this has any real explanation, but John especially wants to make a documentary. He sees dollar signs in recording the magic. John also has an obsession with conspiracy theories, podcasts, and YouTube videos. So he’s determined to film the supernatural activity and sell the doc to the highest bidder.

Something in the Dirt blows through so many theories and LA history that it makes for a gnarly trip, typical of Moorhead and Benson’s work. Yet, this film has so much crammed into its runtime that it sometimes feels overwhelming. It doesn’t end with any definite conclusions about what caused the strange occurrences. But maybe that’s the point. We live in an age where we can look up anything on our iPhone and get lost in the algorithms of YouTube, watching one conspiracy video after another, be it about vaccines, ancient aliens, or other dimensions. There’s always a video to confirm our worldview and bias. Yet, there’s also a story here about two men trying to solve this bizarre mystery and also make a name for themselves in LA, along with everyone else. Along the way, they learn some unsavory facts about each other, which leads to some real human moments and justified antagonism. These clues are scattered throughout the film but fully revealed by the last act.

Put some of the supernatural happenings and philosophy aside, and you also have a movie about filmmaking, a love letter to the process, and Benson and Moorhead’s partnership/friendship. This is especially true within the last few minutes. There’s also something to be said for the fact they even made this film during the height of the pandemic. You also have what feels like an ” X-files ” episode with YouTube conspiracy theories mixed in. Things get weirder and weirder, and Levi and John are on the case, like Mulder and Scully. The only difference, though, is that this case remains unsolved. That’s what’s really frustrating. It doesn’t feel like there’s enough closure. Instead, it just floats one theory after another.

Fans of Moorhead and Benson will likely enjoy their latest feature. It’s heavy on ideas and again pushes at the edges of filmmaking. For those new to these directors, I recommend checking out Synchronic or Spring first. Those features feel a little more focused. Still, at its best moments, Something in the Dirt toys with some mind-boggling ideas while maintaining some real human moments.  Something in the Dirt also impresses for its DIY spirit. At the end of the day, though, maybe this is just about two dudes trying to make it in LA, hoping to cash in where they see a chance. And that’s just fine. Overall, this is another Moorhead and Benson mind-bending trip. Their fans will enjoy it and probably spot some of the Easter eggs, too.  That said, it’s not the best place to start for anyone new to this duo’s work.

7 Out of 10