The Ruse (2025) - Film Review

      The Ruse, 2025.

      Written and Directed by Stevan Mena.

      Featuring Veronica Cartwright, Michael Steger, Drew Moerlein, Kayleigh Anne Ruller, T.C. Carter, Janet Lopez, Madelyn Dundon, Bill Sorice, Heather Drew, Ralph Ayala, Robertson Michaud, Michael Bakkensen, and Nicola Jeanette Silber.

      SYNOPSIS:

      An in-home caregiver is alarmed for her safety after being assigned to a mysterious elderly patient in a secluded seaside residence.

      With the title The Ruse, writer/director Stevan Mena at least kindly informs viewers that trust is scarce and the narrative likely leans towards the absurd and implausible, focusing more on twists than on logical coherence. This certainly holds true. Before delving into the film’s plot, it should be noted that a nearly 30-minute segment is dedicated to one character assembling various clues to this crime mystery before all secrets come to light. It's indeed ludicrous and tends to be more amusing than genuinely rewarding or suspenseful, though it still feels prolonged.

      The first hour follows a similar pattern, lacking subtlety or intrigue as it introduces various characters and their dynamics. The story revolves around a disgraced in-home caregiver named Dale (Madelyn Dundon, who convincingly portrays a person compassionate towards helping others) who gets a second chance to care for the elderly Olivia (horror actress and seasoned talent Veronica Cartwright), a former opera conductor now battling dementia and respiratory issues while mourning her husband’s recent passing. Olivia asserts that her late husband visits her at night, urging her to join him. Her file also indicates she suffers from OCD, a significant aspect of the story. Meanwhile, Dale has a self-centered partner who wishes for her to abandon her passion, as it often keeps her away from him.

      Due to the nursing agency being overstaffed, no relief is expected for Dale anytime soon. This allows her ample time to interact with the odd characters in Olivia’s secluded area, including a nearby single father (Michael Steger) with a somewhat neglected young daughter struggling to make friends, and a grocery delivery man (T.C. Carter) who hints at the father's questionable past. It’s also worth mentioning that the previous nurse has gone missing. There’s someone lurking at night and taking inappropriate photos of Dale and presumably the other nurses.

      Dale’s primary concern is keeping Olivia safe, which becomes increasingly difficult as her memory fails her, occasionally leading her to distrust the nurses. Olivia claims the last one simply left and admits she believes Dale is genuinely caring. Soon, problems escalate beyond just power outages affecting Olivia’s breathing equipment. Veronica Cartwright deserves credit for delivering a believable performance that plays into Stevan Mena's misdirection; it remains unclear if she’s mad, ill, haunted, involved in deceit, or what her true feelings for Dale are.

      However, The Ruse is, as one can observe, heavily plot-driven. Character development is virtually absent since the film oscillates between slowly revealing details about the characters and unleashing plot twists. Surprisingly, the pacing feels sluggish in both scenarios. When everything unfolds, the narrative does not make clear sense. It signals a troubling sign when one character makes accusations while another responds, “Why would I do that?”, only for the latter to turn out to be correct, prompting laughter at the logical inconsistencies.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★

      Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He also serves as the Reviews Editor for Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews and follow my BlueSky or Letterboxd.