Something in the Dirt

Something in the Dirt

Year: 2022

Runtime: 116 min

Language: English

Echo Score: 64
Sci-FiHorrorComedy

When strange occurrences begin to plague their Los Angeles apartment complex, neighbors John and Levi decide to film the unsettling events, hoping to gain notoriety and financial rewards. Their investigation into the paranormal quickly escalates, revealing a complex and dangerous situation that strains their friendship and challenges their understanding of what is real. As they pursue answers, they find themselves entangled in a web of deceit and peril.

Something in the Dirt (2022) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Something in the Dirt (2022) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a cramped Los Angeles apartment complex where ordinary routines are constantly interrupted by inexplicable lights, sounds and a faint hum that seems to emanate from the walls themselves, a thin veil of the everyday begins to fray. The building becomes a character of its own—its narrow corridors and shared spaces echoing with a low‑grade tension that suggests something just out of sight, waiting to be noticed.

John, a part‑time mathematics teacher with a fascination for apocalyptic prophecy, shares his modest dwelling with Levi, a wander‑through spear‑fisher who cobbles together odd jobs to keep the lights on. Their personalities clash as much as they complement each other: John’s analytical mind constantly searches for patterns, while Levi’s grounded pragmatism keeps the pair from drifting entirely into speculation. Both are drawn together by a restless curiosity, sparked when ordinary objects in their surroundings begin to behave in subtly alarming ways.

Compelled by the possibility of uncovering something truly extraordinary, the duo decides to document the oddities with a handheld camera, hoping the footage might bring both notoriety and a financial windfall. Their makeshift documentary takes on a hushed, almost confessional tone, blending the gritty realism of everyday life in LA with a creeping sense of unease that swells with each new, unexplained incident. The city’s sprawling backdrop—sun‑drenched streets, neon‑lit alleys, and a sky that seems to hold its breath—mirrors the protagonists’ growing obsession.

As they chase clues through the labyrinth of the apartment building and beyond, the line between methodical investigation and headlong plunge into the unknown begins to blur. Their friendship is tested by the pull of ambition and the weight of questions that resist simple answers, setting the stage for a tale that balances humor, dread, and the thrill of chasing a mystery that may never be fully captured on film.

Last Updated: August 09, 2025 at 21:08

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with obsessive documentarians like Something in the Dirt

Characters who become dangerously obsessed with documenting a mystery.If you liked the unsettling documentary-style investigation in Something in the Dirt, explore more movies where characters' obsessions with filming reality lead them into danger. These films share a tense, meta-narrative feel, blurring the lines between truth and delusion in a similar way.

paranoidmetaunravelinginvestigativeunreliable narratorclaustrophobicobsessive

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow amateur investigators or filmmakers who start with a simple goal—to prove or document something strange. As they dig deeper, their project takes over their lives, straining relationships and causing them to question their own sanity. The story is often framed by the footage they capture, creating a sense of immediate, unstable reality.

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Movies in this thread are united by the central theme of dangerous obsession, a documentary or 'found footage' aesthetic, and a psychological unraveling driven by the protagonists' own actions. They create a specific, meta-textual tension where the act of filming becomes part of the horror or drama.

Movies about urban paranoia and unraveling like Something in the Dirt

Claustrophobic stories where the city itself breeds madness.Fans of Something in the Dirt's claustrophobic LA setting and descent into urban mystery will find similar vibes here. These movies explore psychological distress fueled by city life, featuring bleak endings, surreal occurrences, and characters trapped in a web of their own making.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves characters, often isolated or in strained partnerships, discovering strange phenomena within their mundane urban surroundings. Their investigation leads them through a city that feels increasingly hostile and unknowable, blurring the line between supernatural threat and internal psychological collapse. The journey typically ends in tragedy or bleak ambiguity.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups films based on their shared mood of urban claustrophobia and psychological unease. They feature a tense, steady pace, a complex and ambiguous reality, and a focus on how modern city life can catalyze a descent into paranoia and obsession.

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Something in the Dirt Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Something in the Dirt

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Something in the Dirt

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Something in the Dirt Ending Explained

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