Neo-noir thrillers with a strong emphasis on atmosphere, paranoia, and surrealism, often featuring labyrinthine plots and ambiguous resolutions, characterize a particular subgenre. These films frequently explore themes of alienation, obsession, and the hidden, darker side of contemporary society, typically set within urban landscapes. Under the Silver Lake, as an exemplar, embodies these elements through its depiction of a disillusioned young man’s descent into a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories and cryptic clues in Los Angeles.
Such films offer a unique perspective on modern anxieties and the allure of the unknown. By blending classic noir tropes with contemporary settings and anxieties, they resonate with audiences who find themselves grappling with similar feelings of disconnection and uncertainty in a complex world. The rise of this subgenre in recent years arguably reflects a broader cultural fascination with conspiracy narratives and a desire to unravel the mysteries beneath the surface of everyday life. These narratives offer a form of escapism while simultaneously providing a lens through which to examine societal anxieties.