10 Movies & Shows Like Something in the Dirt

Description: A cerebral and tightly constructed time-travel narrative that focuses on the unintended consequences of scientific experimentation, featuring dense dialogue and a nonlinear plot.

Fact: Made on a budget of just $7,000, the film's complex timeline has spawned numerous fan-made diagrams attempting to decode its events. The director also composed the film's score.

Description: A tightly wound time-travel thriller that plays with causality and paranoia, as a man becomes entangled in a series of increasingly bizarre and violent events.

Fact: The film was remade in Hollywood as 'Timecrimes,' but the original Spanish version remains the most acclaimed. The director also created the cult TV series 'Los Cronocrímenes.'

Description: A philosophical sci-fi drama that unfolds almost entirely through dialogue, as a man claims to be immortal, sparking intense debates among his friends.

Fact: The film was shot in just a few days on a minimal budget, relying entirely on its script and performances. It gained a cult following after its release and even spawned a sequel.

Description: A melancholic and introspective sci-fi film about isolation and identity, featuring a lone astronaut who uncovers unsettling truths about his mission.

Fact: The film's special effects were achieved using miniatures and practical effects, giving it a retro sci-fi feel. It was the directorial debut of Duncan Jones, who later directed 'Source Code.'

Description: A contemplative sci-fi drama that blends existential themes with a quiet, emotional narrative, exploring guilt, redemption, and alternate realities.

Fact: The co-writer and star also composed the film's haunting score. The movie was shot on a shoestring budget, with much of the crew working for deferred payment.

Description: A mind-bending time-travel story that explores identity, fate, and paradoxes, with a narrative that twists back on itself in unexpected ways.

Fact: Based on a short story by Robert A. Heinlein, the film's central twist is considered one of the most shocking in modern sci-fi. The lead actor underwent significant physical transformation for the role.

Description: A surreal relationship drama with sci-fi undertones, where a couple's retreat takes a bizarre turn, exploring themes of identity, love, and existential doubt.

Fact: The film's twist was kept secret from audiences in its marketing campaign. The entire story unfolds almost entirely between two characters in a single location.

Description: A low-budget sci-fi thriller that explores the unsettling effects of a cosmic anomaly on a group of friends, blending psychological tension with surreal, mind-bending twists.

Fact: The film was shot in just five nights, with much of the dialogue improvised by the actors. The director provided the cast with daily notes to guide their performances without revealing the full plot.

Description: A mysterious indie sci-fi film that delves into cults, time loops, and cosmic horror, creating an eerie atmosphere with minimalistic storytelling and ambiguous supernatural elements.

Fact: The directors also starred in the film as the two brothers at the center of the story. It is loosely connected to their earlier film 'Resolution,' set in the same universe.

Description: A stylish, dialogue-driven sci-fi mystery set in the 1950s, where two young people uncover a strange radio signal that hints at otherworldly phenomena.

Fact: The film features several long, unbroken takes, including a nearly 10-minute tracking shot. It was shot in just 19 days and premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival.