Something in the Dirt (2022)
75%RT Audience Score: 59%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Something in the Dirt reaffirms Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead as sci-fi storytellers with a distinctive — and darkly alluring — vision.
If you’re looking for a sci-fi flick that’ll make you feel like you’re on a wild ride through the unknown, then Something in the Dirt is the movie for you. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead have done it again, proving that they’re the kings of sci-fi storytelling. Their vision is so unique and darkly alluring that you won’t be able to look away from the screen.
From the very first scene, you’ll be hooked. The tension builds and builds until you’re on the edge of your seat, wondering what’s going to happen next. And let me tell you, what happens next is wild. I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say that you won’t be disappointed.
The special effects are top-notch, too. You’ll feel like you’re right there in the middle of the action, dodging lasers and explosions left and right. And the soundtrack? Don’t even get me started. It’s so good that you’ll want to download it as soon as the credits roll.
Overall, Something in the Dirt is a must-see for any sci-fi fan. It’s got everything you could want in a movie: action, suspense, and a killer storyline. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and get ready for a wild ride. You won’t regret it.
Production Company(ies)
Supernatural, VOD, XYZ Films
Distributor
XYZ Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
2022
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 56m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 4, 2022 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 22, 2022
Genre(s)
Sci-fi/Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead, John Daniels, Levi Danube, Sarah Adina Smith, Wanjiru M Njendu, Vinny Curran, Gille Klabin, directed by Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead, written by Justin Benson, produced by David Lawson Jr., Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, sci-fi, comedy, horror, R rating, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Sheila O’Malley, K Austin Collins, William Bibbiani, Roxana Hadadi, Noel Murray, Jeannette Catsoulis, Dennis Harvey, Elias Savada, Rich Cline, Steven Nguyen Scaife, Steve Erickson, Zebib K.A., paranormal, Los Angeles, friendship, fame, fortune, supernatural events, phenomena, rabbit hole, dark vision, gritty, DIY-vibe, thought-provoking, crazy-making, mystery, fun, audacity, discipline, intergalactic geniuses, genre-bending, magic, myth, conspiracy, delusion, exciting, unnerve, move, guess, audience score, limited release, streaming, XYZ Films
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $10,000,000
Production budget ranking: 1,618
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,385,000
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Aaron Moorhead – Director, Producer
David Lawson Jr. – Producer
John Daniels – Actor
Levi Danube – Actor
Dr. Rita Miller – Actor
Levi’s Parole Officer – Actor
Dr. Vincent Daniels – Actor
Boaz Kaminski – Actor
Director(s)
Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead
Writer(s)
Justin Benson
Producer(s)
David Lawson Jr., Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (72) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (65) | Rotten (7)
Something in the Dirt has the gritty DIY-vibe of the no-budget world from which it sprang, and is both thought-provoking and crazy-making, just like the mood it presents.
November 9, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Sheila O’Malley
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
Ultimately, Something in the Dirt doesn’t quite convince as a genuine mystery — and it doesn’t seem to be meant to. Having fun with the artifice of it all seems far more to the point.
November 7, 2022
K. Austin Collins
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
What it has in abundance is genuine sadness. Benson and Moorhead direct and shoot their film smartly, but their performances are what ground it and give it shape.
November 4, 2022
William Bibbiani
TheWrap
TOP CRITIC
For those who are fine without finality, Something in the Dirt’s funky, frenetic paranoia is fun to hang out with for a while.
November 4, 2022
Roxana Hadadi
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
For the first 90 minutes or so, there’s remarkable vibrancy and spontaneity to this picture, as its creators and stars seem to be coming up with their story on the spot, with the cameras rolling.
November 3, 2022
Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
An ambitious potluck of buddy comedy, paranormal puzzle and whatdunnit mystery, this fifth feature from the filmmaking team of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead cheerfully substitutes audacity for discipline.
November 3, 2022
Jeannette Catsoulis
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Watching these actors riff is entertaining…but not for the first time, their ideas start to wear thin before their running time does, making for a fun movie that would be more so were it a half-hour or more shorter.
November 11, 2022
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
The “intergalactic geniuses” Moorhead&Benson, a.k.a. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, are back to their deviously genre-bending antics for their fifth tag team feature.
November 9, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Elias Savada
Film International
Cleverly playing on inexplicable things we struggle to explain away, this gently amusing film mixes elements of comedy and horror.
November 8, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
The process is deflating, because it also pushes the audience away, cutting them out of any investment or belief in the narrative.
November 7, 2022
Steven Nguyen Scaife
Polygon
The ideas aren’t new, but the film’s liberation from commercial constraints and refusal to settle firmly into the groove of one genre, while still working within pop culture, are exciting.
November 7, 2022
Steve Erickson
Gay City News
An inspired and detailed spiral down a rabbit hole of magic, myth, conspiracy and delusion that will move and unnerve its viewers while also keeping them guessing.
November 7, 2022
Zebib K.A.
Spectrum Culture…
Plot
When neighbors John and Levi witness supernatural events in their Los Angeles apartment building, they realize documenting the paranormal could inject some fame and fortune into their wasted lives. An ever-deeper, darker rabbit hole, their friendship frays as they uncover the dangers of the phenomena, the city and each other.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels does not provide any goofs for the film “Something in the Dirt” in this section.
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