David Robert Mitchell's second feature feels so much like a homage to Lynch and Hitchcock that it almost gets lost in it's own tribute at times - even down to the beer brand. I couldn't stop thinking about Mullholland Drive all the way through, which took away some of the shine from what should have been a very interesting film in it's own right.
There are some really interesting moments of mystery and trippy delight that really captures Los Angeles in the same way Lynch managed to. But where Mullholland Drive excelled was in staying power right to the end and the ability to make the viewer intrigued well after the movie had finished. 'Silver Lake' does that to a point but has so many references / puzzles / guessing games that the final 20 minutes seems more of a chore than a crescendo. The amount of movie / pop culture / music references is insane and I agree with another reviewer that this could all be a nod to Mitchell's own experiences of trucking around Hollywood wondering where his next move is going to take him.
I still think this could be a cult classic in years to come and is a tidy enough paranoid thriller. There's also a comedic element that fits in well. But it does lack that punch that makes me want to delve into it further. Maybe that's on me. I'm not sure.
There are some really interesting moments of mystery and trippy delight that really captures Los Angeles in the same way Lynch managed to. But where Mullholland Drive excelled was in staying power right to the end and the ability to make the viewer intrigued well after the movie had finished. 'Silver Lake' does that to a point but has so many references / puzzles / guessing games that the final 20 minutes seems more of a chore than a crescendo. The amount of movie / pop culture / music references is insane and I agree with another reviewer that this could all be a nod to Mitchell's own experiences of trucking around Hollywood wondering where his next move is going to take him.
I still think this could be a cult classic in years to come and is a tidy enough paranoid thriller. There's also a comedic element that fits in well. But it does lack that punch that makes me want to delve into it further. Maybe that's on me. I'm not sure.