Once upon a time...

This isn't fully just a fan appreciation post for Ruben but he is formidable in more than one way. He wrote and directed this film as well as starred in it. And none of the roles felt like they suffered in the least. One of the things I often repeat because it weighs so heavily for me is the casting element. This is one of those films that has a short cast. There are five actors credited with a role and one of those is on screen for maybe 15 seconds without a single line. Ruben plays Fred, the main protagonist. Aya Cash plays Fanny. She's the main point of friction and fun when it comes to Fred's story arc. Lastly, there's Carlo, played by Chris Redd. He's a wild card applied at just the right time to introduce another layer and shake things up. Not that the film ever seemed in danger of becoming stale but this ensured it fully. The way these three moved about in the limited space within the film was fantastic. It was a very intimate environment which presented it's own challenges but the acting gave way to the tone that drove this film with precision.

I pause there because the tonality was worth noting as well. It felt like there were elements of The Shining and Misery at play at times, which clearly provided significant inspiration for Ruben. There is a not too subtle nod to the Kubrick classic and the overall nature of the film invoked elements of King's work as well. Interesting on it's own level since the two gifted writers did not have much cohesion themselves. But this was mirrored quite expertly in how the two main characters did this awkward little dance throughout the whole film. They never quite let you settle into any one clearly defined emotional state without introducing a sharp turn here and there. It was a very subtle element that seemed to invite you further into the narrative but never get comfortable within the film itself. Any time you seemed to get close, it felt as though the characters knew it and presented some element of dialogue or interaction that brought you back to unsettled attention.

I think what might be my favorite part of how this film really unfurls throughout the runtime is the fact that it blurs that line between reality and fiction regularly. There are moments where you're unsure if what is happening is just creative narrative becoming more lively or if something greater than competing storytelling come alive. I sincerely enjoyed the fact that you seemed forbidden from finding a real lasting sensibility in any one segment. It didn't put you on edge like there was permanent tension. But they definitely had no intention of really allowing you to move into the position of pure observation. They wanted you front and center for the story as it's being told. Where the story ends and reality begins fades into the background and at best all you can do is try and guess where the lines are. There's no way of knowing the difference between pure fantasy and defined actuality. But it's done in such an accessible way that it never feels forced or pretentious. That's why I think I enjoyed it as well as I did.

I won't simply grant this film some sort of pass like there were no mistakes. I don't think it was an error to employ it, but there were times, at least initially, where the cringe was a little more than I truly felt was necessary. It was never over the top but it made me hesitant at first to feel like there was the requisite chemistry between Fred and Fanny for the story to come to life in a meaningful capacity. We did get over it and it was simply a choice I wouldn't have made, but there's parts of it where my own aptitude in that moment could have easily betrayed the integrity of the tension as well. So I count it against the film in my own experience but I don't think I want to say that it was handled poorly.

Overall I think I have to give this movie a B+. It feels very much like Caveat from Damian McCarthy. I found him a year or two ago as an indie horror director from Ireland. Oddity was his sophomore film, I believe and I loved it. Hokum came out this year and I was a big fan as well. I went back and added Caveat to the collection based on the first two entries being so solid. I don't regret the purchase, but it's a very similar case. A Shudder Original that gave a foot in the door opportunity to someone with real talent and aptitude. Josh Ruben is the same way. Werewolves Within and Heart Eyes are simply more defined and polished vehicles he's been able to put out since he did this one. There's not really a cavalcade of errors that dinged it. Honestly it just didn't quite rise to that level of A like I wanted it to. But I think it got as close as it could. Even in saying that, I think it might very well still make my wall. Once again providing a hopefully relevant delineation between preference and critique. Missteps were minimal and it was a fantastic Freshmen outing for Ruben. I'm so excited he's had more opportunities to continue working and has 3 films currently in different states of development, one being a sequel to Heart Eyes. I fully intend on following Ruben's career as hopefully it only grows bigger and better.

I'm quite thankful this film emerged. It was a much welcomed breath of fresh air after a couple of middle of the road films. This movie tonight was as close as I think I could get to top tier without fully realizing it by a truly small margin. It was a wonderful film with a considerable amount of heart and fantastically orchestrated balance between laughter and tension. The frights were tangible. The humor was palpable. It was a most entertaining ride. And now we are down to three. Halloween is within view. It's just a literal few days away. 2026 continues to surprise me in the best ways possible. I'm extraordinarily thankful for how spirited this year's adventure has been. I do have my most intentional plan yet for tomorrow. It's my last kid free evening before the conclusion of the month so I'm endeavoring to see Clayface at the theater. It's gotten such rave reviews from a number of outlets and despite my issues with body horror and a lack of real appreciation for the sub genre, I'm going to roll the dice and take a chance. So that's what's on the agenda for tomorrow to hopefully help close out 2026 with some real fireworks. We'll have to wait and see how the DC horror foray pans out, however. So until next time, I'll catch you on the flip side.