This 90% Rated Hidden Gem on Hulu Is an Ultimate Must-See for Any Fan of The X-Files
This sincere work is a declaration of love to all the fans of paranormal phenomena who still have a poster on the wall in their room that says I Want to Believe.
If anyone got lucky in 2022, it was horror fans. Jordan Peele survived a UFO invasion in Nope, Robert Eggers drenched The Northman in blood, and Ti West teamed up with A24 to release X.
Unsurprisingly, among such high-profile releases, lesser-known but no less impressive films have been lost – and one of them is Something in the Dirt, a kind of love letter to fans of The X-Files.
What Is Something in the Dirt About?
In a tiny apartment in not the best part of Los Angeles, neighbors find the supernatural – a flying ashtray. John and Levi decide to cash in on the anomaly and make a movie about their amazing discovery.
Something in the Dirt is an ironic and touching reflection on why people are so eager to believe in the supernatural around them.
Something in the Dirt Is Made by a Duo of Brilliant Independent Directors
If the names Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead don't ring a bell, you're in for a treat.
The two directors have long been on the radar of industry giants like Netflix, Paramount+, and Disney+, who have invited them to direct episodes of Archive 81, The Twilight Zone, Loki, and Moon Knight.
Under the studio wing, Benson and Moorhead have never been able to achieve the success they had when they were working independently and making completely unique films like Resolution, Spring, and Synchronic.
Something in the Dirt Is a Wild Mix of Different Genres
In Something in the Dirt they return to the DIY style: they shoot, write, stand behind the camera, edit, create special effects and play the main roles. Even the main location is Justin Benson's apartment.
At the very least, the movie should be appreciated for the spirit of rebellion and incredible freedom that reigns in it, which does not even allow us to accurately determine the genre of the movie.
If the duo's previous works balanced on the edge of post-horror and sci-fi, then In Something in the Dirt defies identification. It is mumblecore, horror, sci-fi and comedy all at once.
Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead's Movie Is a Message to Every Viewer Who Wants to Believe
The obsession with the ashtray and filming in a stuffy apartment in Something in the Dirt is dictated by a desperate need for miracles.
Like Fox Mulder, Levi and John want to believe that in addition to wildfires, California earthquakes and rent bills in a cheap Los Angeles room, the gravitational field can change and a portal to other dimensions can open.
The extraordinary is very close, the tabloids do not lie, aliens live among us and can make an ashtray fly. In this movie, people raised on Stephen King novels and The X-Files are looking for their own little truth, which is different for everyone.
