Something in the Dirt – TADFF 2022

Two neighbours decide to make a documentary about the paranormal events happening in their apartment building in Something in the Dirt. Levi Danube (Justin Benson) moves into a Los Angeles apartment block as a temporary crash pad before he leaves the city. He quickly meets his divorced neighbour John Daniels (Aaron Moorhead), who helps Levi settle in. However, just before he leaves the apartment, John, then Levi, witnesses a paranormal phenomenon involving bright lights and a floating quartz ashtray. Together, the neighbours decide to investigate the source of this supernatural event, filming their findings for a documentary.

Something in the Dirt is the latest feature film from the directing duo of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Resolution, Spring, The Endless, Synchronic), with the two also starring in the lead roles of Levi Danube and John Daniels, respectively. The film was predominantly shot in the Los Angeles apartment of Justin Benson during the COVID-19 pandemic of often features mockumentary interstitials featuring talking head interviews with experts such as UCLA chemistry expert Dr. Rita Miller (Sarah Adina Smith). As Livi and John make their documentary, the latter soon develops increasingly crazy conspiracy theories about what is happening in their building.

It can be surmised that Something in the Dirt, dedicated at the end to “making films with friends,” is a pitstop for Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead before moving their now decade-long career to more significant projects, such as directing episodes of the MCU series Moon Knight and the upcoming second season of Loki. Something in the Dirt is quite a slow-paced film but is also a fascinating mix of mockumentary, cosmic curiosities, and crazy conspiracies. Frankly, I'm not sure what happens in the movie other than it has to do with crystals, Pythagoras, and cat parasites, but that makes Something in the Dirt all the more interesting of a mind-bender.

Trailer for Something in the Dirt – TADFF 2022