Conn.-set ‘Clara’s Ghost’ a family psychodrama

“Clara’s Ghost” is proof a movie should never be judged by its title, who is in the cast or a director’s lack of experience. Any wrong assumption could lead to missing an intriguing offering.

The film from first-time feature director Bridey Elliott (daughter of actor Chris Elliott) looks at one evening in the life of the Reynolds family at their creepy suburban Connecticut home. The quiet family reunion begins to take on darker tones when the family matriarch, Clara (Paula Niedert Elliott), begins to experience weird events. The question is what is happening to Clara, either as the result of outside mystical influences or the aftermath of the slow disintegration of her mind caused by years of living in the shadows of her husband and daughters.

The name of the low-budget production suggests it’s an offering in the horror genre. While there are certainly strange characters and unusual events, “Clara’s Ghost” is more of a psychological thriller blended with a family drama.

Another wrong conclusion can be made by looking at the cast, which includes “Cabin Boy” and “Get a Life” star Chris Elliott; Bridey’s real-life mother, Paula Niedert Elliott, and the director’s sister, Abby Elliott (“Saturday Night Live”). Chris and Abby have done so much work in comedy their casting suggests the production could be a horror comedy.

Bridey Elliott’s script is smartly written as to allow for some naturally funny moments, especially in the scenes where the family members casually bicker. These moments come across as real conversations that make the dramatic moments play even heavier.

The key is a lot of what “Clara’s Ghost” is trying to say depends on the perspective of the audience member. Push too much one way and the horror overwhelms the story, while too little leaves the emotional moments lifeless. Bridey never rushes a moment, whether it’s how the family deals with stardom or dealing Image from “Clara’s Ghost.”

with a critical incident.

The way she has put together “Clara’s Ghost” is as if the viewer has been invited to be a guest for the family event. The closer the story pulls in the viewer, the more fascinating the possibilities.

Before taking on “Clara’s Ghost,” Bridey had only directed one short film. She shows not only a great skill at both getting the most out of a microscopic shooting budget, but also being able to get solid performances from her cast.

A large amount of credit goes to Paula, who makes Clara feel multidimensional. This is a woman who loves her family despite being the odd person out in most instances, which sends her into an emotional spiral.

At first glance, it would be easy to write off “Clara’s Ghost” as another in the long line of low-budget movies with supernatural tones from a young director. That would be a mistake. The film pushes the viewer to dive deep into the tale of a fractured family. It is one of the most pleasant surprises of the year.

Donald Stahl / TNS