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elimination1953
Reviews
Next Door to the Velinsky's (2011)
An interesting and riveting film...worth a look
I have seen a few low budget and independent films before and all have failed to keep me interested for more then twenty minutes. I have become numb to the constant 'outback heartbreaking tear jerker' with tag lines like 'a truly heart pounding drama'. So you can imagine what my expectations were as I was sitting in my seat waiting for 'Next door to the Velinskys' to begin screening. But I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. Within the first ten minutes we were introduced to Ruby Taylor, a very intriguing woman with a very dark past. The film dives into the troubled life of Ruby played by actress Chloe Traicos. Ruby represses horrific and traumatizing memories from her childhood, and is constantly drinking and partying herself numb. The film deals with a very taboo subject and handles it with care, and by the end of the movie you a presented with a shocking realization about the company Ruby keeps. Rubys childhood friend James (played by actor Matt Doran) is a character you find yourself rooting for as he struggles to help her move past her haunting memories. The stand out character for me was Rubys boss Matthew Kai, played by actor Rudy Yap. You believe Matthew to be an over caring boss with a simple crush on Ruby, but soon realize there is a more heart warming and loving connection between the two. Much like a protective uncle. The film is slightly slow in pace but it works for such a dark and intense storyline. The supporting characters such as Rubys work colleagues are highly enjoyable and provide a good comedic release just when you feel the movie is becoming too intense. All up, the film is highly enjoyable, beautifully written and definitely worth a watch.