THE RUSE
Filmmaker Stefan Mena brings audiences THE RUSE. The film follows an in-home nurse, Dale, and her newly assigned dementia patient. Upon arrival in a remote seaside town, Dale discovers she is replacing the last nurse who mysteriously went missing. Consumed by her patient’s ever-changing lucidity and he-said, she-said of the neighbors, Dale becomes entangled in a chilling whodunit.
As Tom, Michael Steger walks a razor-thin line between a good guy and a total creep. Steger is formidable. Equal parts charming and terrifying, it’s a compelling turn. Genre icon Veronica Cartwright gives Olivia everything she has. The performance is a beautiful balancing act of dementia and regal articulation. She is mesmerizing. Each beat is perfect. Madelyn Dundon plays Dale with a grounded familiarity. She is vulnerable and relatable. Mema puts her through the emotional ringer, and Dundon keeps up like a pro.
Mena’s score adds to the menacing feeling. The jump scares are legit. Mena executes thoughtfully written relationship-building while skillfully dropping clues to the mystery. Mena plays with small-town gossip, isolation, and a nurse’s instincts. THE RUSE boasts a twist that will f*ck you up. You are not prepared for the final 3rd of this film. This is a story about control. If you think you know where this screenplay is going, think again.
WORLD PREMIERE – MAINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024
OFFICIAL SELECTION – TIFF 2024
The Ruse trailer:
Seismic Films and Mena Films’ upcoming Suspenseful Thriller THE RUSE, written and directed by Stevan Mena (Bereavement, Malevolence) and starring Veronica Cartwright (Alien, The Witches of Eastwick), Michael Steger (“90210”), and Madelyn Dundon (Getting Grace) will open in theaters nationwide on Friday, May 16th.
Produced by STEVAN MENA, TIMOTHY BRISTOLL, and SCOTT KRYCIA. Associate Produced by LEE MELTZER
Synopsis
When the in-home caregiver assigned to an elderly patient mysteriously vanishes, Dale (Madelyn Dundon) is quickly sent as the replacement nurse. She rushes to the remote seaside home, only to find herself in the middle of chaos, forced to deal with an unruly patient, mysterious neighbors, and terrifying supernatural occurrences that seem to plague the home. Is the house haunted? Or is something even more malevolent to blame? As the walls close in, unsure of whom she can trust, Dale fears for her life and that of her patient. Starring the legendary Veronica Cartwright (Alien, The Witches of Eastwick), you won’t want to miss this scary thriller that is guaranteed to keep you guessing till the very end!
Suspenseful Thriller | 105 minutes | Color | 2024 | USA | English
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