Baby Ruby – Movie Review (4/5)

BABY RUBY is a new drama-thriller that might even feel like straight-up horror for those who recognize the situation. Noémie Merlant is amazing in the lead role. To be fair though, the entire cast is brilliant – as is the simple plot. Read our full Baby Ruby movie review here!

BABY RUBY is a new drama-thriller about becoming a mom for the first time. Before you write it off as “not for me”, you might want to reconsider. Not only is its runtime of 89 minutes perfectly utilized, but you just might manage to recognize what the main character is going through.

I am not a parent, but I’ve been around new first-time parents enough to recognize Jo (Noémie Merlant). Well, and also the new father Spencer (Kit Harington). The are so many extraordinary nuances and layers to this story that unfolds as it progresses. I found myself completely wrapped up in this little piece of life.

Continue reading our Baby Ruby movie review below. Find it in theaters and VOD from February 3, 2023.

What is real?!

In Baby Ruby, it all begins in a happy and hopeful way. Jo (Noémie Merlant) is a successful lifestyle entrepreneur with a website named after her. She is happily pregnant and awaiting the arrival of her first child with buckets of energy.

However, very shortly after little Baby Ruby arrives back home with her parents, something feels off. Everyone is quick to assure her that everything is perfectly normal. Both her new daughter and what she’s experiencing. However, Jo doesn’t share all she’s experiencing as it becomes increasingly weird.

Is something wrong with her?

Or is something wrong with Ruby?

More than anything, why are all the perfect neighborhood moms desperate to befriend her?

Everything feels wrong and Jo finds herself fighting to protect herself and her baby. It’s a waking fever dream where everyone around her feels like a threat to them. Please note that this is not actually a supernatural thriller, though it might sound that way. Instead, it focuses on the horrors that many new parents find themselves caught up in.

Noémie Merlant delivers a perfect performance

There is a real danger that people could see the mother, Jo, as just a crazy woman. Someone who is too tired and possibly suffering from real mental illness. However, that’s where the performance from Noémie Merlant (Tár) makes all the difference in the world.

We see it from her point of view and she is restrained enough – when necessary – that we recognize how real it all is for her. Of course, we do have doubts when Kit Harington (Game of Thrones, Criminal UK) as Spencer gets nervous and downright scared. Both for his beloved wife and his newborn helpless daughter.

Making sure we relate to both of these characters, we have Jayne Atkinson as Doris, the mother of Spencer. She’s a new grandma and the only one who really tries to understand and relate to Jo. Of course, Jo isn’t ready to listen because she’s already so far gone.

Still, Jayne Atkinson (Castle Rock, Clarice) manages to show Doris as someone who really does have the best interest (of everyone) at heart. Even when it all seems a little too crazy and scary.

Watch Baby Ruby on VOD or in theaters – but do make sure, you watch it!

Baby Ruby is the feature film debut from noted playwright Bess Wohl, and I cannot wait to see what she does next. In this thriller (with drama and even horror to highlight moments), she pulls strong performances from her already amazing cast. Every single character just works and you’ll likely be able to relate to something in them.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect but I have found myself often impressed with stories that deal with first-time parents. There is so much to learn from watching a movie like this and recognizing all the little things that nobody talks about.

Or rather, all these (let’s be honest) terrible details around becoming parents are always discussed afterward. How much it could help, if new parents were told this ahead of time. New mothers wouldn’t be afraid that they were going crazy and new dads wouldn’t have to worry that their co-parent is losing their mind.

BABY RUBY is out in theaters and on VOD on February 3, 2023

Details

Director: Bess Wohl
Writer: Bess Wohl
Cast: Noémie Merlant, Kit Harington, Meredith Hagner, Jayne Atkinson, Reed Birney, Camila Canó-Flaviá