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| Images Courtesy of Cranked Up Films |
COVID lockdown was a watershed moment not only in the history of mankind but also in the creation of art. Countless novels, films, television programs, and other creative works were born both in response to the pandemic and as a means to come to grips with a form of universal trauma that still resides within the collective subconscious. Johanna Putnam's haunting and evocative thriller, Shudderbugs is one such example, a modern mystery that masquerades as an inverted treatise on the nature of loss. Featuring a bravura central performance, elegant visuals, and an unexpected approach to a familiar story, this is an excellent example of an independent passion project.
A woman returns to her childhood home to settle the affairs of her mother who recently passed. Slowly her sanity begins to disintegrate as she delves into the nature of her mother's death, intent on finding the true cause. Due to the lockdown, Putnam and her costar Brennan Brooks did the lion's share of the production, with Putnam writing and directing and Brooks behind the camera. Putnam's script is lean and minimal, with just enough breadcrumbs to keep the viewer's attention as her character Samantha begins her sojourn of bereavement. Putnam's performance one of those rare treasures where the actress not only embraces the role down to its very essence, but she leaves everything on the stage, perhaps one of the most powerful advantages to a small, intimate, and independent production. It is clear from the masterful opening scene (comparisons to The Ring are unavoidable) that Putnam has something to say and throws her entire body into her art.
Brooks’ performance as a possibly malicious neighbor is understated, the perfect companion to Putnam's quiet force of nature. His cinematography is elegiac, showing that even in the darkness of loss, there is always light. Shots of the interiors are ominous, while the natural outdoors are filmed as quiet and contemplative, a thoughtful prison around a center of anguish. Ultimately, this is what Shudderbugs is about, the limits we go through to either lie to ourselves, heal ourselves, or destroy ourselves (and sometimes all three simultaneously), which is symbolized in Samantha. The end result is a simple, predictable story told in an exceptionally well-done fashion by a director who clearly loves the medium.
Now available for digital streaming, Shudderbugs is one of the most competent debuts in recent memory, sweeping the festival circuit and garnering several awards. If you are interested in a meandering, reflective expose on the nature of losing a loved one, this will not disappoint.
--Kyle
Jonathan