Johanna Putnam’s elegantly made and emotionally layered psychological drama “Shudderbugs” embodies much of what is both special and essential about independent cinema. It’s the kind of movie that comes from a filmmaker who only has to answer to herself. No pressure from producers, no big studio meddling, no demand to make something more digestible for mainstream audiences. Putnam and her small but cohesive team of collaborators had the freedom to make the movie they wanted. And the results are pretty special.

“Shudderbugs” recently had its Arkansas premiere at the El Dorado Film Festival where it took home the Pam Callaway Spirit of the Festival Award. Filmed in 2020 at her parents’ farm in upstate New York during the COVID-19 lockdown, “Shudderbugs” tells a deeply resonating story about coming to grips with loss and trying to move forward. It’s a story that’s rich with feeling, full of evocative imagery, and driven by an aching and soulful lead performance from Putnam herself.

Putnam plays Samantha Cole who returns to her family’s rural farm house following the unexpected death of her mother Elizabeth. Sam’s father, a beloved local historian, drowned two years ago in their small pond. So that leaves Sam, an only child, to handle her mother’s affairs. Over the course of her stay, Putnam patiently yet methodically lets us in on the family’s history, mostly through Sam’s memories and discoveries. Dreams, flashbacks, phone calls, etc. – these devices and more help the audience fill in the lines.

But Putnam also keeps us feeling a bit off balance. “Everything seems off,” Sam says at one point and we sense the same thing. There are a handful of mysteries that spring up and Putnam throws us a few curveballs that make us question what we see and think we know. For example, what was Sam’s mother’s cause of death? And what’s with the creepy neighbor named Noah (Brennan Brooks, also the film’s DP) who lives in the basement of a dilapidated yet character-rich old house down the road?

Adding to the subtle sense of unease is the sublime sound design. At times it seems as if everything we hear is amplified – the squeak of a screen door, the wind chimes on the porch, the creaking stairs, the buzz of mosquitoes. It can be eerie, haunting, and even hypnotic. Yet as with everything it’s very controlled and never overpowering. That’s a testament to Putnam’s keen direction and particularly her terrific management of tone. You see her confidence in her determination to stick with her vision, and maintaining the right tone is essential to that vision.

Putnam makes so many good choices both as the film’s director, writer, and star. It’s hard not to be swept away by her mesmerizing drama, from its compelling setup straight through to its fittingly poignant final frame. You could say the film is a tad longer than it needs to be and that’s one thing that will likely trip up the aforementioned mainstream crowds. But I’ll happily accept that if it means getting something as genuine, as original, and as alluring as “Shudderbugs”.

VERDICT – 4 STARS