Ruby Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Ruby" by MVD Visual and VCI Entertainment uses an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, which has unfortunately been met with considerable criticism due to technical flaws. Although marketed as a new 2K transfer from the original 35mm negative, there is compelling evidence that the source was actually a lesser print from HBO’s archives. Consequently, there are numerous artifacts such as combing and stairstepping, which are apparent from the opening credits and throughout the film. Jagged edges and parallel vertical lines are recurrent visual disruptions that detract from the overall experience.

Further, the video transfer exhibits inconsistent and poorly managed grain levels, leading to clumpy and pixelated grain structure. Some scenes appear excessively filtered, resulting in a notable absence of grain, while others display an unnatural softness coupled with black crush in darker scenes. This undermines the detail and clarity typically expected from a high-definition transfer. The color palette does hold some positives with vibrant red tones, particularly noticeable in costume details, albeit marred by an inconsistent yellowish tinge throughout the presentation.

Compounding these issues, a known anomaly involving an unintended fade-to-black sequence further taints the viewing experience, with VCI admitting to this error and initiating a replacement program. However, this initiative is unlikely to address all the underlying defects in the current transfer. Despite these drawbacks, the 84-minute R-rated theatrical version largely adheres to Harrington's original cut, preserving most of the intended narrative structure. Nevertheless, the overall lack of visual fidelity suggests that a more experienced label might have delivered a superior restoration effort.

The Blu-ray release of "Ruby" features a monaural audio presentation encoded in a 2.0 LPCM track. This soundtrack reveals reasonable fidelity, providing clean dialogue that remains intelligible even during peaks, though it occasionally exhibits a boxy character at higher volumes. The score by jazz musician Don Ellis, while not his most memorable, is one of the more prominent elements and sounds reasonably full-bodied despite not winning any awards for its composition.

Furthermore, the audio mix offers adequate dynamics to capture the essentials of both dialogue and music. The track underscores the ubiquitous nature of the score, which plays a continuous role throughout the film. Optional English SDH subtitles are available, appearing in a white font for clear readability. Overall, the monaural audio serves its purpose, delivering a satisfactory experience without major flaws.

The Blu-ray extras for "Ruby" offer an engaging and comprehensive look into Curtis Harrington's work and life, though some technical issues like audio sync problems persist. The Commentary with David Del Valle and Nathaniel Bell provides valuable historical context and analysis, despite occasional difficulty hearing Del Valle. An archival commentary with Harrington and Piper Laurie complements this with personal anecdotes, albeit slightly scattered. The 2001 David Del Valle Interview with Harrington is detailed but marred by significant audio synchronization issues. Additionally, two Sinister Image episodes explore Harrington’s early to late career stages but suffer from minor technical flaws and appear to be upscales.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with David Del Valle and Nathaniel Bell: Insightful analysis on Curtis Harrington.
• Commentary with Curtis Harrington and Piper Laurie: Offers personal anecdotes from the director and lead actress.
• Ruby Original Trailer: Nostalgic vintage horror trailer.
• 2001 David Del Valle Interview with Curtis Harrington: Extensive career discussion, hindered by audio sync issues.
• Sinister Image Episode Volume 1: Early life and career interview of Harrington.
• Sinister Image Episode Volume 2: Discussion of Harrington's later career, including his work on "Games."

Curtis Harrington's 1977 film "Ruby" stands out as an atmospheric, if erratic, supernatural thriller. Piper Laurie commands the screen as Ruby Claire, a former gangster's moll turned drive-in theater owner haunted by the murder of her lover, Nicky Rocko. The narrative commences in the 1930s and immediately disorients with its dark visuals and convoluted plot points, before jumping forward to a bizarre present-day scenario where Ruby’s mute daughter Leslie becomes the vessel for Nicky's vengeful spirit. Despite its thematic ambition, Harrington’s attempt to evoke fear falls short, with many scenes resembling caricatures of "The Exorcist," only without the thematic depth or religious undertones of Friedkin’s classic.

Laurie's performance, marked by her red outfits and perpetual distress, provides a stark contrast to the film's otherwise underdeveloped characters. Meanwhile, Janit Baldwin's portrayal of Leslie is unexpectedly compelling, her possession sequences echoing the creepiness of more polished horror efforts. Stuart Whitman and Roger Davis offer solid support but are hampered by a script that fails to explore character backstories or establish coherent motivations. Particularly odd is the subplot involving Ruby’s romantic tormenting of a blind man named Jake, and the bizarre, unexplained dynamics between Ruby and various other characters.

The drive-in setting gifts the film a nostalgic aura that clashes intriguingly with its violent moments, such as a gruesome death by a runaway projection reel. Despite its uneven pacing and scattershot narrative—replete with Ruby’s random nightclub acts and inexplicably gruesome deaths—the film can be seen as a charmingly flawed artifact from a different era of horror. Although Nathaniel Bell acknowledges "Ruby" as partly a failure in his commentary, the film's oddball appeal might still captivate fans of offbeat, cult cinema searching for early independent horror ventures.

The Blu-ray release of "Ruby," directed by Curtis Harrington, offers a mixed technical performance that will leave both niche genre enthusiasts and new viewers with diverging opinions. While the film itself is an intriguing ghost tale of revenge and possession, starring a captivating Piper Laurie, the Blu-ray's visual and audio presentation falls short of expectations. The transfer exhibits noticeable issues, such as subpar image quality and occasional audio sync errors, which detract from the overall viewing experience.

Despite the technical shortcomings, the Blu-ray release compensates with a robust supplemental package. This includes a range of extras that delve deeply into the film's production and legacy, although it's worth mentioning that some of these supplements also suffer from audio synchronization problems. These added features are a significant draw for devoted fans who appreciate behind-the-scenes content and historical context, thereby partially mitigating the disappointment in the main feature's presentation quality.

I have friends who love Ruby, though even they tend to laugh at its more florid moments. This is one completely odd motion picture in any number of ways, and unfortunately its technical presentation has some issues that make it even odder. The supplemental package may be the real selling point here, but even some of the supplements have audio sync issues.