Parents' Guide to

Under the Silver Lake

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Unusual, languid, cryptic, graphic Hollywood-set film noir.

Movie R 2019 139 minutes
Under the Silver Lake Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In UNDER THE SILVER LAKE, unemployed Sam (Andrew Garfield) lives a do-nothing existence in his Hollywood apartment, obsessed with secret codes hidden in pop culture and with using binoculars to peer at his neighbors. One day he sees Sarah (Riley Keough) in the swimming pool and becomes fascinated by her. She invites him over for an evening, but when he returns the next day, she's vanished -- moved out in the middle of the night. Sam starts investigating, coming upon many strange clues, such as a serial dog killer, a mysterious 'zine, an old cereal box, Janet Gaynor, a dead billionaire, and a band that may have clues hidden among its song lyrics. As Sam drifts through a surreal Los Angeles following leads -- and getting sprayed by a skunk -- he discovers mysteries that are deeper, and stranger, than anything he ever imagined.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (3):

This film noir plays out on a huge, unwieldy, everything-including-the-kitchen-sink canvas; it's bold and baffling, possibly great, but possibly a great folly. Under the Silver Lake -- David Robert Mitchell's follow-up to his stunning It Follows -- feels like a sophomore slump, even though it's actually Mitchell's third film (The Myth of the American Sleepover was his debut feature). It's like an effort to overcome writer's block by free-associating images and ideas and sticking them all in, without discernment or restraint. It's also a long movie, with many, many characters, some of whom occasionally return and others who are seen only once. First-time viewers might actually want to take notes.

But Mitchell's touch behind the camera is sure and confident, and he creates a wonderfully languid cityscape, filled with dreamers and oddballs. The wide, beautifully composed images create a mood that you almost want to breathe in, and the sound design -- and a fine score by Disasterpiece -- is delightfully mysterious and imaginative. Casting Garfield was a brilliant touch; his general amiability helps viewers latch on to this character and makes them want to continue following him, even as his adventures grow more and more bizarre -- and more starkly pessimistic. Under the Silver Lake leaves off with a bit of a strange, sour note, but it's not easily forgotten and perhaps cryptic enough to revisit.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Under the Silver Lake's violence. At its most intense, is it exciting or shocking? What did the filmmakers do to achieve this effect?

  • How is sex portrayed? What values are imparted?

  • One character implies that there's nothing meaningful on Earth and that the best bet is to leave. How do you feel about that sentiment? What do you find meaningful about our planet?

  • What's a "film noir"? What messages does the genre seek to convey? Does this movie qualify as one?

  • How are drinking, smoking, and drugs portrayed? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences for using them? Why does that matter?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate