BABY RUBY tells the story of Jo (Merlant), a successful, French lifestyle entrepreneur who is happily pregnant, awaiting the arrival of her first child. But soon after Jo welcomes baby Ruby home, something starts to feel off-- even though she's assured it's all perfectly normal. Is something wrong with her? Is something wrong with Ruby? And why are the seemingly perfect neighborhood moms so desperate to befriend her?
As Jo fights to protect herself and her baby, she is plunged into a waking fever dream where everyone is a threat and nothing is what it seems. At last, she must confront the truth of her own darkness and contend with the ultimate human sacrifice: The one mothers make for their children.
Director
Bess Wohl
Cast
Noémie Merlant, Kit Harington, Meredith Hagner
Rating
Year
2023
Country
United States
Language
English
Main Trailer
Reviews
- "BABY RUBY is an audacious and riveting portrait of maternal life that’ll leave you wailing into the night."
- IndieWire - "It’s a powerful message about a part of motherhood that has stayed hidden out of shame and internalized disgust for too long."
- The Playlist - "Writer/Director Bess Wohl’s debut feature uses psychological horror to put viewers in the shoes of a new mother unraveling after giving birth. It’s a fascinating means to open up conversations on postpartum psychosis."
- Bloody Disgusting - "The film is a mad whirl of influencer phoniness, paranoia, imposter syndrome and parenting nightmares."
- Arizona Republic - "Whether you’re angered or tickled, it makes for a mesmerizing film."
- San Francisco Chronicle - "Post partum paranoia that's intense enough to be triggering for moms, and a hair-raising “Oh, NOW I get it” for dads or prospective fathers-to-be."
- Movie Nation - "Likely to stick with you long after it’s finished, Baby Ruby is a more realistic view of maternal life, even if it’s being shown through an atmospheric lens."
- The AU Review - "Baby Ruby gets its message across thanks to a phenomenal performance by Merlant and a gentle sensibility by Wohl as it approaches its resolution."
- Film Inquiry - "Wohl, a gifted playwright, brings the best aspects of her work on stage - the sly exposition and the shrewd use of locations, in particular - while demonstrating she’s a formidable filmmaker even in her feature debut."
- Moveable Fest - "This movie is exhausting in the best way possible."
- Deadline Hollywood Daily
Festivals
- Toronto Int'l Film Festival