Hey gang, Valkor here. I’m a fan of always wanting to try something new; With TOV, I’ve opened that door more times than I could have ever imagined. And once I’ve gone through that door, I’ll either outright reject it or want more. So, when given the chance to grab a taste of Roger Sampson’s latest short–and I do mean short - Ruby, I have to say that I want more! A lot more! A whole lot more! Read on!
Ruby stars Gracie Whitton as Grace, who arrives at either friend or family member’s home of Miranda (Tricia Mauro), with a mysterious doll in tow (Ruby). What happens next? Well, a concerned Miranda overstepped her boundaries and gets the hammer smackdown. End scene! No, seriously that’s it! The film is the size of a trailer, with a run time of 3 minutes (including end credits). And while it may be short, it has some impact. And let me just say, I really hope there’s more to come with the Ruby doll because I feel there’s a larger film waiting to happen!
Let me elaborate on my previous statement; A few years ago, I reviewed fan-film Mega Man, which, even with its low budget, was pretty impressive stuff. And much of what I thought of that film applies here. In short, with a larger budget, I can see Ruby being something special. She’s already in good hands with horror director Roger Sampson, who has shown he has the flair to produce quality horror. The mood in this three-minute short is just right, which is super creepy! However, there isn’t enough time to get freaked out or to learn more about Ruby’s origins, how Gracie came in possession of the doll and where the murderous duo is headed. We may never know... or we’ll know in the future.
Whether if it’s a sizzle real or a “taste of things to come”, Ruby looks to be something special and I hope we get to see more of her horrific exploits in the future. While the short is making the festival rounds, where and when the film will become available to the public is unknown at this time. Maybe in the next Forces of Horror anthology? Either way, out of TOV 5 stars, I’m giving Ruby a solid 4.
