Under the Silver Lake is a clever subversion of the conspiracy thriller genre, and it’s about to leave Netflix
“Under the Silver Lake,” a 2018 film directed by David Robert Mitchell, is departing Netflix on July 5. The critically divisive surrealist black comedy offers a clever subversion of the conspiracy thriller genre, satirizing its well-worn tropes rather than embracing them earnestly.
Starring Andrew Garfield as Sam, the film explores obsessive puzzle-solving tendencies through a comedic lens. Mitchell, best known for the psychological horror film “It Follows,” takes a distinctly different approach with this project, contrasting sharply with the serious tone typically associated with paranoid thrillers.
The conspiracy thriller subgenre has deep roots, spanning from gritty ’70s classics like “Three Days of the Condor” (1975) and “Soylent Green” (1973) to contemporary entries such as “Watcher” (2022) and “Coherence” (2013). While most films in this subgenre lean toward serious drama and mind-bending mystery, “Under the Silver Lake” distinguishes itself by making the bold choice to satirize genre conventions. The article encourages viewers to watch the film before it leaves the streaming platform next week.