It feels more than a little appropriate that I'm late to reviewing Shudderbugs, a Good Deed Entertainment release written and directed by Johanna Putnam. Putnam, who also stars in the film, has crafted a quietly elegant thriller centered around the strange ways we cope with loss and the myriad aspects of who we are that come to light within that coping. 

Having lost my father four short months ago after a brief period of hospice, I've found myself almost weirdly paralyzed to get back into life despite the fact I had an amicable but strained relationship with him. I'm not sure I could have reviewed Shudderbugs four months ago, though at this stage in my grief it somehow feels just about right. In the film, Putnam's Sam returns to her rural childhood home when her mother suddenly, and mysteriously, passes away. This is a place that is familiar to her, though there's not a whole lot of reveal of the relationship left behind. What should feel comfortable doesn't. Instead, Sam enters this world where items are missing, the environment feels unnatural, and a neighbor, Noah (Brennan Brooks), found her mother and yet feels incredibly off. The uncomfortable feeling spirals as Sam wrestles with a growing psychological fracture and a lack of certainty as to whether or not she can trust these feelings she's feeling. 

One could call Shudderbugs a slight film, though that feels both inaccurate and unintentionally insulting. It's meditative and thoughtful, dialogue is sparse and intentional and one practically feels Sam's words whether she says them or not. It's true that Shudderbugs is a psychological thriller, however, it's a unique thriller that defies the genres usual expectations. 

I loved Putnam here. She dominates the screen and far away has the most screen time. Brennan Brooks's Noah is easily her most frequent companion. While Brooks isn't on the screen often, he makes the most of his time as he twists our expectations of him and really never plays into who we think he's going to be. Both Putnam and Brooks captivate here, demanding our attention even when there's complete and utter silence. 

Shudderbugs screened at my hometown Heartland International Film Festival and picked up awards at the likes of  Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival (Indie Auteur of the Year, Best Original Music Score), Garden State Film Festival (Best Movie Theme Song, Best Blue Grass Song), Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema (Best Director - Feature Film, Best Screenplay - Feature Film, Best Original Score, Vanguard Award - Narrative Feature) and others. 

These awards are deserved, though this no-budget feature filmed on location at the filmmaker's childhood farmhouse during the pandemic with a cast/crew of three isn't the kind of film that you'll ever find in a multiplex. It's an indie film through and through. That's what it's trying to be and that's what it succeeds at being. 

Of course, given I mentioned its awards for music it must be mentioned that the film's music is damn near perfect for the film. Eric Elterman's original music somehow weaves a tapestry all its own amidst this isolating setting and the profound nature of loss. Kudos as well for the film's lensing, courtesy of Brennan brooks, which wraps us up in this isolation and smothers us with cold discomfort and rural familiarity. 

Shudderbugs demands patience and attention and commitment to Putnam patient, reflective storytelling. For those with that patience, this is a mighty rewarding film. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic