Justin Benson And Aaron Moorhead Talk Something In The Dirt And Explain What Really Happened To Levi

If you are an Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson fan, their latest Something In The Dirt feels made just for you. It is everything the filmmaking duo does so well. It is a labor of love that feels like their most personal film while inviting you into their wild and wacky world of completely everyday weirdness. Their unique brand of science fiction and horror is quintessentially theirs and blends emotional cynicism and everyday magic. Their stories feel like they could happen to anyone, anywhere, despite their sometimes mind-bending elements and occasional body horror frights. I got to sit down with the pair to talk about Something In The Dirt, filmmaking, finding the extraordinary in the mundane, working on big-budget productions, and what really happened to Levi.

For many of their fans, the emotional journey is as important as the horror and sci-fi aspects. It sets their brand of movies apart from others and garners the pair such a rabid fanbase. It became clear very early in the interview that Benson and Moorhead are the real deal. They are passionate about what they do and have an innovative spirit that thinks their independent filmmaking provides them with more, not less, opportunities. Their smaller budgets and fewer resources allow them to focus on the performances and the story.

Additionally, Benson adds, “there’s something really exciting about, at least, the attempt at trying to innovate in sci-fi and horror.” He continues, “there is still, after all these years in cinema, there’s still things that can be discovered.” He wants to give the audience a sense of wonder and dread. The roller coaster drives him to produce movies for an audience.

The pair have a comfortability and respect between the two that speaks of time served. It’s easy to imagine them hanging out and bouncing ideas off one another. The pair live in the same apartment building, and the apartments in Something In The Dirt are their actual apartment. The origin of the movie itself came from a ‘haunted house movie” but a “really weird one.” said Moorhead. Benson references Resolution and The Endless and says they take inspiration from everything around them. The rope gag in The Endless was easy to get on a low budget and so thematically relevant it was perfect for the story and provided that ideal choice for a bizarre moment out of something so ordinary.

Everything Benson and Moorhead do is thoughtful. They explained that they were looking to keep things fresh by looking for the “opposite of the power dynamic of the characters they played in The Endless.” Benson said. They have a knack for creating universally resonant characters. They capture all of the flaws, triumphs, and truths about humanity in a very accessible way. Their characters stick with us because they feel real.

It was a lot of fun talking to these two bright, personable guys. They were game to talk about anything, and when asked if they believed any of John’s conspiracies, they instantly had something to say. Benson was quick to point out that the Pythagorean Brotherhood was real. Moorhead believes wormholes are “plausible,” and Benson agrees. At this point, a spirited discussion about the speed of light and non propulsive travel ensued. These are brilliant guys, and it’s clear that this is where all their fantastic ideas come from. They really do think about all the science fiction elements they make movies about. For them making films is about the wonder and the responsibility of good storytelling.

Moorhead explained his dad had a plaque with a phrase that has always stuck with them. He said they “write lyrics” when they make movies. He explained that whatever they are”putting in front of the world pushes us forward” It was vital for them “To be curious and appreciative of the mysteries we have been given.” Although Something In The Dirt is the most “pessimistic,” he said it was necessary for the story to unfold that way.

The duo comes alive when asked about what happened to Levi. It was then that their creativity got sparked, and it was almost like watching the story process happening right in front of me.

What Happened To Levi in Something In The Dirt?

“It’s funny no one’s ever asked that. Here’s a couple of interesting things. One is… ahhh, he’s definitely, I mean, in reality, Levi’s most certainly dead. But however, here’s some interesting scenarios. One is if he weren’t dead. There’s a brilliance to them creating this tragedy. If that’s what happened to him. There’s a poetry to it. In fact, whoever did that would probably be correct that the project would be more well known. It would be more likely to be well known. If it were staged.”

It was like watching lightning being captured in a bottle as I sat back and listened to Benson and Moorhead think through an alternate ending to their movie. Although they were adamant Levi was dead, they were excited to share what could have happened. Benson created scenarios with new filmmakers who made up the tragedy and happy accidents. In one ending, Levi fell off his deck into the bushes, and John became convinced he was dead, only to realize he was fine. At that point, John would get an epiphany that that would make a great ending to their documentary. Benson envisioned him living in isolation, with John telling him only what he needed to know. Moorhead also had ideas that the Levi we saw in the film was just an actor hired by John or someone else, and we never actually met the real Levi.

The pair was a delight to talk with, and with projects scheduled with one of the biggest names in the business, Disney, there are lots to look forward to from them. When asked about bouncing between the huge budget hits Moon Knight and Loki Season 2, Moorhead says independent film gives “them more freedom.” “Moving between the two words kept their brains oscillating back and forth and improves the work of both.” Like the trickster God, Loki, Benson, and Moorhead’s characters have depth. I can’t wait to see what they do with Loki Season 2. Something In The Dirt is streaming now everywhere VOD.