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Ruby (1977) - Blu-ray Review

3 beersIf the unforgettable "skeletonized" ending doesn't get to you, Piper Laurie in a low-cut blazing red dress will. 

Nicky Rocco, over a decade after his violent murder, is indeed coming back to claim what is rightfully his.  But first he’s going to have to deal with the blind dude in the wheelchair and his “I could have been big time” girl, Ruby Claires (a very dramatic Laurie).

For a horror film made in the latter part of the 1970s, Ruby dares to defy the era of its birth with a mood-setting period piece.  This is unusual for a super low budget flick, but it absolutely works here, thanks to its foggy overtones, budget colored lighting, and its striking use of camp.  So what if Ruby is a tad too touched in the head for its own good? 

Ruby delivers a bizarre tale of twilight terror and, as it co-stars Stuart Whitman as Vince Kemper and Roger Davis as Dr. Paul Keller, it’s no stranger to a bit of the old melodramatic either.  I mean, it’s pretty much solely located in a drive-in theater that offers blood instead of coffee from its deposit machines and plays only one movie, over an over again so, yeah, you just have to go with its matinee-themed madness. 

Trust me, you won’t mind watching boffo scenes from Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman over and we haven’t even reached the mother-daughter “Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me” dance in the attic.  If only the film could keep its manic energy up during its already short 85-minute running time.  But that hasn’t stopped VCI Entertainment from bringing the film, complete with a new 2K transfer and restoration, onto blu-ray with this it’s HD debut.

Directed by Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?’s Curtis Harrington, the film opens in 1935 with a gangland-style murder as the aforementioned Mr. Rocco (Sal Vecchio), a notorious gangster with a soft spot for his women, is double-crossed by a line of pinstriped thugs armed with tommy guns and wicked, devil-may-care attitudes.  They’ve had enough of him. 

So much for the romantic night Nicky’s girlfriend, Ruby, was expecting.  She’s now bathed in her lover’s blood and giving birth to their daughter.   Whoops.   

Sixteen years later, Ruby is running a drive-in with the same hugs who took out her boyfriend with slugs to the chest and face.  They run the concession stand, hilariously enough and, as Leslie grows creepier and creepier, they feel the worst is yet to come.  They couldn’t be more right.

But first we need a possession.

Soon enough, the couple’s mute daughter Leslie (Janit Baldwin), once all grown, is all about her father’s legacy, even if that means recreating some of violent tendencies.   A balance has been upset and it is trying to straighten itself out through her unusual actions.  No one suspects that Leslie’s dearly departed dad has returned from the grave and is killing people.  But Leslie knows; she’s seen him in the shadows.  Lurking. 

Ruby knows EXACTLY the type of schlocky low-rent flick it is.  Trust me, this makes all the difference in enjoying it.  Much of the horror is over-the-top, but the performances align with its thrills perfectly, even if they are undeveloped and disappear into blah all too often.  Just wait until Roco, acting through his daughter, tries to make a pass at his once upon a time ago, girlfriend. 

Ruby is psychosexual, weirder than shit, and creepy all at the same time.  And its possession-centered storyline just might keep you up all night long.

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Ruby (1977) - Blu-ray Review

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime:
85 mins
Director
: Curtis Harrington
Writer:
George Edwards
Cast:
Piper Laurie, Stuart Whitman, Roger Davis
Genre
: Horror
Tagline:
PIPER LAURIE-Frightening in "Carrie". Now...Terrifying as "RUBY"
Memorable Movie Quote: "Ah, Baby. How I want you."
Theatrical Distributor:
United Artists
Official Site:
Release Date:
June 24, 1977
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
September 12, 2017
Synopsis: Sixteen years after Ruby Claire's gangster boyfriend was shot and killed by four associates, a series of gruesome murders takes place at the drive-in movie theatre she now owns. Meanwhile, the behaviour of her mute daughter Leslie is becoming increasingly strange and a visiting psychic claims that forces from beyond are out for revenge.

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Ruby (1977) - Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: VCI
Available on Blu-ray
- September 12, 2017
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: English SDH
Audio:
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; DVD; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Provided by VCI Entertainment, the new digital film transfer from the original 35mm negative is the preferred director’s theatrical cut of the movie.  It supports an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and a Dolby Digital Mono soundtrack.  The film looks quite warm in the color department.  Reds are the dominant colors.  Black levels are solid, though.  The film looks crisp and colors are bold, with special gooey attention paid to some of  of the effects.  It’s unlike any other version of the movie released thus far; focused and detailed.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  •  Fans are treated to a feature length commentary with director Curtis Harrington & actress Piper Laurie, where they talk about the movie and its bizarre nature.

Special Features:

There aren’t a lot of supplemental materials provided with the release, but before Ruby goes disappearing into the night with her ghost lover and his skeleton hands, you will definitely get your fill.

  • Interview with Curtis Harrington by Film Critic David Del Valle
  • Photo Gallery

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Ruby (1977) - Blu-ray Review

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