‘Something in the Dirt’ Theories, Meaning, Explanation, and Themes

Benson and Moorhead struck gold again with Something in the Dirt. I didn’t think they could outdo The Endless, and maybe they haven’t, but I think they’ve at least come close.

Lots to talk about here in this sci-fi hidden gem. Instead of just talking, I decided to write it down.

This is the result. Here’s my analysis of Something in the Dirt.

Screenshot from “Something in the Dirt” trailer.

Top Theories About the Meaning and Themes of ‘Something in the Dirt’ (2022)

1. The Descent into Madness as a Mirror of Obsession

Theory: The film is a metaphor for how obsessive truth-seeking (especially conspiracy-driven) leads to madness, alienation, and self-destruction.

• Why It Fits:
  • Levi and John begin by collaborating, but their shared investigation morphs into a paranoid feedback loop. John’s obsession with uncovering a “grand pattern” consumes him, and Levi’s reluctance is ignored. The documentary becomes less about truth and more about control.
     
• Key Moments:
  • John’s shifting, contradictory theories suggest he’s inventing connections to maintain a sense of purpose.
  • Levi warns John multiple times to stop, showing he’s still grounded in reality.
  • The “interview” scenes, filmed after Levi’s death, show John still clinging to the documentary even after it’s cost someone their life.

2. Supernatural Events as a Projection of Grief and Isolation

Theory: The phenomena are manifestations of Levi and John’s mental states, particularly loneliness, trauma, and existential dread in a decaying Los Angeles.

• Why It Fits:
  • Both characters are isolated and marginalized — Levi is rootless and lives off odd jobs, John is disconnected from reality and ideology-bound. The “supernatural” may reflect the characters’ emotional need for meaning or transcendence.
• Key Moments:
  • The floating quartz appears in their shared apartment, their only connection to each other.
  • Radiation burns and hallucinations parallel psychological breakdowns.
  • John continues the project after Levi’s death, suggesting denial and deep isolation.

3. A Satire of Amateur Documentarians and Internet Pseudoscience

Theory: The film critiques how amateur “truth-seekers” twist evidence to fit increasingly incoherent narratives — a parody of YouTube conspiracists and pseudo-intellectuals.

• Why It Fits:
  • John is emblematic of the DIY documentarian who prioritizes spectacle over substance. His refusal to accept counter-evidence and constant theory-shifting expose his desperation to be seen as insightful.
• Key Moments:
  • John’s “calculations were off” line is a deadpan dismissal of any responsibility.
  • The use of mockumentary interview framing undermines John’s credibility and suggests he’s curating the story for personal gain.
  • The entire project resembles fringe online content that treats confusion as proof of hidden knowledge.

4. Cosmic Horror Hidden in Mundanity

Theory: The film is a subtle cosmic horror story, with Levi and John unwittingly uncovering a reality-altering force that humans aren’t meant to understand — a modern-day Lovecraftian descent.

• Why It Fits:
  • The phenomena aren’t explained, and attempts to analyze them lead to death and madness. The discovery of totems and the blacked-out manuscript echoes classic cosmic horror tropes.
• Key Moments:
  • The glowing quartz, strange signals, and impossible plant growth suggest a rupture in natural law.
  • Levi floating in the sky, dying mysteriously near an occult scene.
  • John’s refusal to explain what happened hints at forbidden knowledge — the kind that drives people insane.

5. A Character Study Disguised as Sci-Fi

Theory: The film uses the trappings of science fiction to explore a toxic relationship between two unstable men — it’s not about the phenomenon at all, but about control, projection, and dysfunction.

• Why It Fits:
  • The events follow the shifting power dynamic between Levi (passive, hopeful) and John (dominant, deluded). The documentary project becomes an arena for John’s manipulation.
• Key Moments:
  • John constantly gaslights Levi and rewrites the narrative to suit himself.
  • Levi’s death is ambiguous — possibly suicide, possibly caused by John.
  • The final interviews reveal John’s pathological detachment and need to “finish” the film at all costs.

Key Themes in ‘Something in the Dirt’

The Fragility of Male Friendship

The film explores how shallow connections between men can rapidly devolve under pressure. Levi and John begin as neighbors seeking purpose, but their inability to communicate honestly or respect boundaries leads to breakdown and betrayal.

Los Angeles as a Liminal, Decaying Space

L.A. is portrayed not as glamorous but hollow — a place of forgotten hillsides, crumbling apartments, and eerie coincidences. The city becomes a character itself, reflecting a broader sense of social entropy and hidden histories.

The Illusion of Objectivity in Storytelling

Through the framing device of a documentary-in-progress, the film questions whether any narrative — especially those built from found footage and speculative claims — can ever be truly objective or free from manipulation.

Escapism Through Pattern-Seeking

Rather than facing personal failures, the characters distract themselves by chasing esoteric signs. The film critiques how humans create meaning from randomness as a coping mechanism for powerlessness or despair.

Amateurism and the Dangers of Unfiltered Inquiry

John and Levi’s lack of expertise and unchecked curiosity mirror a world where “doing your own research” often replaces credible investigation, sometimes leading to dangerous or even deadly consequences.

Plot Summary

• Year Released: 2022
• Director: Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead
• Writer: Justin Benson

Levi, a drifting odd-jobs worker, moves into a rundown Los Angeles apartment where he discovers strange supernatural phenomena—glowing, levitating quartz objects and eerie signals—with his neighbor John, a paranoid ex-math teacher involved in an apocalyptic church. The two decide to make a documentary about the occurrences, but as they dig deeper, the line between discovery and delusion blurs. John’s obsession grows toxic, and Levi becomes increasingly uneasy. The partnership deteriorates, leading to Levi’s mysterious death and John’s evasive, unsettling attempt to complete the film alone.

Movies Like ‘Something in the Dirt’

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Coherence (2014)

A dinner party among friends unravels as a comet passes overhead, causing multiple realities to bleed into each other — a psychological and quantum nightmare.

—> Watch Coherence online.

Primer (2004)

Two engineers accidentally build a time machine in their garage, triggering a spiral of mistrust, paranoia, and identity confusion as timelines multiply.

—> Watch Primer online.

The Endless (2018)

Two brothers return to a cult they escaped years ago, only to discover time loops and an invisible force controlling the remote camp.

—> Watch The Endless online.

Resolution (2013)

A man chains his drug-addicted friend in a cabin to force detox, but strange media artifacts and an unseen entity manipulate their reality.

—> Watch Resolution online.

Broadcast Signal Intrusion (2021)

A video archivist uncovers creepy pirated broadcast tapes and descends into obsession, convinced they’re tied to a missing persons conspiracy.

—> Watch Broadcast Signal Intrusion online.

Enemy (2013)

A mild-mannered professor discovers an exact double of himself, leading to a surreal and disturbing descent into identity and madness.

—> Watch Enemy online.

They Look Like People (2016)

A man begins to believe that those around him are being taken over by evil creatures, forcing the viewer to question what’s real and what’s psychosis.

—> Watch They Look Like People online.

The Vast of Night (2019)

Set in 1950s New Mexico, a switchboard operator and a DJ investigate mysterious radio frequencies possibly linked to extraterrestrial contact.

—> Watch The Vast of Night online.

The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)

A pseudo-documentary that follows law enforcement as they analyze disturbing tapes left behind by a serial killer — a study in obsession and perception.

Annihilation (2018)

A team of scientists explore a mysterious zone where the laws of nature have broken down, triggering psychological and biological transformations.

—> Watch Annihilation online.

Have Your Own ‘Something in the Dirt’ Theory?

This is one of those movies I wish I could go back and watch again for the first time. Alas, I’ll have to settle for watching it a third time sometime in the next few months.

In the meantime, I’d love to discuss this film more. So leave me a comment: What did you think? Anything I missed in my Something in the Dirt theories and analysis? 

Let me know.

😱