Motherhood Is a Nightmare in BABY RUBY

A new mom’s postpartum journey is anything but picturesque. While her husband endures the same sleepless nights as she does, her experience contains horrifying visions that loosen her grip on reality. Starring Noémie Merlant and Kit Harington, Baby Ruby is a disorienting psychological horror-thriller that perfectly captures maternal fears and mental battles new parents can face.

Adored blogger Jo (Merlant) is expecting her first child with her loving husband Spencer (Harington). But after giving birth to their daughter Ruby, Jo’s life becomes a harsh contrast to the idyllic life she once showcased online.

As they both struggle with the early days of parenthood and the fussiness of a newborn, it seems to be taking a larger toll on Jo. Waiting for the joys of motherhood to kick in, envious of the other new moms in town, Jo falls deeper into a sense of paranoia as she becomes fearful of everyone, including her child.

Baby Ruby presents an unfiltered and honest portrayal of parenthood and a mother’s journey through postpartum. From adjusting to a new addition and new body to dealing with the overwhelming anxieties that trouble new parents, director Bess Wohl perfectly captures it all.

The film shows the isolation a mother can face when their journey is not as glowing as others make it out to be. Jo has the opposite experience as the other put-together moms who radiate joy from their babies. And that alone can feel so lonely.

There’s so much propaganda shown to women regarding how they should feel about having children. They must be glowing during pregnancy and filled with immense pride while raising a kid. But that isn’t the case for many, and this film doesn’t shy away from showing the more unpleasant parts of motherhood.

Even more, the film is not afraid to take viewers on a disturbing psychological trip through those unpleasantries. There are many tricks this film pulls out that will leave you uncomfortable, even having you waver between your empathy for Jo.

While it struggles at times to balance reality against Jo’s delusions in a more polished way for the viewer, Baby Ruby excellently exaggerates the horrors of parenting. Merlant’s performance is so compelling, and the abrupt visuals command your attention.