Benson-Moorhead Universe Movies: Release Order
Filmmakers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead have quietly built an intriguing shared universe - what they call the Shitty Carl Cinematic Universe. Unlike traditional franchises, these films tell standalone stories that subtly connect through shared mythology, locations, and characters. Each film works entirely on its own, with connections ranging from direct narrative continuation to mere easter eggs.
Resolution and The Endless form the core of this universe, with The Endless set up as a companion piece that expands on Resolution's mysterious supernatural entity and time-loop mythology. The other films - Spring, Synchronic, and Something in the Dirt - exist in the same world with looser connections through references and thematic elements.
You can watch the movies in any order without needing prior knowledge, though watching Resolution before The Endless is recommended. Benson and Moorhead describe their films as "puzzle pieces" that complete each other's mysteries rather than chapters in a linear story.
Resolution
A man takes his drug-addicted friend to an isolated cabin to force him through detox, but they soon discover that strange and unexplained forces are manipulating the events around them.
Spring
A young American man escapes to Italy where he begins a mysterious romance with a woman who harbors an ancient, supernatural secret.
The Endless
Two brothers reluctantly return to the mysterious cult they escaped from years earlier, only to discover that the group's strange beliefs about reality might not be as crazy as they once seemed.
Synchronic
Two New Orleans paramedics investigate a series of mysterious deaths connected to a dangerous new designer drug with supernatural properties.
Something in the Dirt
Two neighbors in an LA apartment building discover supernatural phenomena and decide to document it, hoping to turn their paranormal experiences into fame and fortune.
Other Film Series
Alien
Humanity's terrifying encounters with a perfect killing organism across centuries of space exploration.
Darkman
Sam Raimi's cult superhero-horror trilogy following a disfigured scientist who becomes a vigilante.
H.P. Lovecraft
Feature film adaptations directly based on the works of horror author H.P. Lovecraft.
Halloween
The iconic slasher franchise following masked killer Michael Myers across multiple timelines and reboots spanning over four decades.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Four films exploring alien pod people replacing humans, each updating the concept for different eras and anxieties.
REC
Spanish found footage horror franchise following a demonic infection outbreak, featuring intense apartment building quarantine scenarios and their devastating consequences.