When some young, fresh and original directors garner attention for their first film, it can lead to the Hollywood lure of big names, bigger budgets, and more generic work. But on the evidence of this trailer for Primer director Shane Carruth’s Upstream Color, he’s sticking with the complex, thoughtful and atmospheric tone. Take a look above.

Very little is known about the film, which features Carruth acting once again, this time alongside Andrew Sensenig, Brina Palencia, Amy Seimetz, Juli Erickson, Frank Mosley and Mollie Milligan.

It will screen at the Sundance Festival in January, and so far all that has really been released besides some stills is this rough synopsis: “A man and woman are drawn together, entangled in the lifecycle of an ageless organism. Identity becomes an illusion as they struggle to assemble the loose fragments of wrecked lives.” So... Yes. He certainly has us interested.

But don’t go expecting the trailer to illuminate much – this is a tone piece more than an exposition dump. Still, it serves to keep our interest firmly in place.

There’s no word yet on when it might show up in general release, but frankly we’re just glad Carruth is back making his own films after mostly helping others (including acting as a consultant on Looper).