The Ruse (2025)

User Review

• 

  ScreenZealots

  3 / 10

  “The Ruse” is a barely serviceable low-rent ghost story that never quite rises above B-grade mediocrity. With a solid premise and some decently staged atmospheric visuals, it leans more into mystery-thriller territory than full-on horror.
  
  The story follows Dale (Madelyn Dundon), a nurse sent to a remote seaside home after the previous in-home caregiver for the elderly Olivia (Veronica Cartwright) mysteriously disappears. What starts as a routine assignment quickly spirals into something far more sinister. Dale is confronted with an irritable patient, creepy neighbors, and a string of supernatural events that suggest the house (or something lurking within it) might be cursed.
  
  The setup is classic haunted house fare, and it’s far from groundbreaking. While writer / director Stevan Mena doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the genre, the film is executed well enough to at least stay partially engaging.
  
  The production values are surprisingly strong for what feels like a mid-budget thriller. The cinematography captures the coastal isolation effectively, and the moody score helps build tension. A lot of the positives are undercut by corny jump scares and overused horror tropes (like slamming doors, sudden loud noises, and ominous whispers aplenty). These moments rarely land, and they certainly don’t feel very scary.
  
  Performance-wise, the acting is rough. Dundon carries the film adequately, but the cast overall gives off a made-for-TV vibe. The standout is Cartwright, who brings some gravitas and a touch of class to an otherwise forgettable supporting cast. She out-acts them all, which makes the balance in performances feel all the more uneven.
  
  As the film progresses, it attempts a twist-filled narrative pivot, leading to a big reveal that’s entertaining but also a bit silly. The layered story turns feel more like something out of a procedural crime drama than a supernatural thriller. The twist may feel like a genuine surprise, but it doesn’t hold up under much scrutiny.
  
  “The Ruse” doesn’t deliver lasting scares or anything memorable.
  
  By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS

  Like?

  0 member like this review.