Film fans have been anxiously awaiting the latest film from director David Robert Mitchell, titled “Under the Silver Lake,” since its debut at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. The mystery-thriller starring Andrew Garfield was set to be the triumphant return for Mitchell, after his breakout hit horror film “It Follows.”
However, since its debut in France, the film has undergone extensive editing, resulting in multiple delays, and is now poised to be released later this month in a very limited theatrical run and VOD. It’s the conclusion of a rollercoaster ride for fans expecting a big summer release from A24, and are now more likely to catch it on VOD.
Folks started to wonder what was going on when it was revealed on Amazon that “Under the Silver Lake” would be available to purchase on VOD on April 23. Previously, a theatrical run in April was announced, with many presuming it would be months until a home release. However, we can confirm that following the film’s April 19 release, Mitchell’s latest will be available for those wanting to purchase a digital version on April 23, mere days after its theatrical debut.
To say “Under the Silver Lake” had a troubled production is a bit of a misunderstanding. The film really suffered its troubles in the post-production process. As mentioned, the film initially screened at Cannes, and was received with mixed-to-bad reviews, leading A24 and Mitchell the option to delay the film long enough for a re-edit. That’s exactly what happened, with the film moving from its summer 2018 release to a fall 2018 date.
Unfortunately, delays hit the film again, as any hype or buzz surrounding ‘Silver Lake’ began to erode and fans wondered if there was something seriously amiss with Mitchell’s latest. Then, A24 announced an April release, which meant that perhaps the film was going to get a substantial run in theaters, as “It Follows” received back in spring 2015. It seems that the hope that many film fans had for seeing the film in theaters is dashed, as it’s likely to only have a minor release (in major cities) before being dumped on VOD.
Does this sort of release speak to the overall quality of the film? Not necessarily. A24, and many other smaller indie distributors, have used this sort of release strategy with many quality films. That being said, with all the history surrounding “Under the Silver Lake,” we can’t help but wonder if this is a way to mitigate the studio’s losses and try to get as many people to see the film as early as possible and not drag the situation out any longer.
We’ll find out what happens with fan reaction when “Under the Silver Lake” arrives in theaters on April 19 and VOD on April 23.