This is everything I wanted it to be and more. I'm so glad Aanand primed me by saying:

Francis Ford Coppola is so concerned about humanity he has to sink one hundred and eighty of his very own millions into making a Southland Tales about it

Simultaneously, this movie is:

• a disaster
• a masterpiece
• a showcase of how movies can be so much more
• a cautionary of the importance of editing
• very clear in its metaphor and symbolism
• confused in its own messaging
• deeply concerning in its own messaging

See it in theatres if you can