But things are revealed near the end, that make it pretty clear that what you've been watching is not what you thought it was. The performances by both main characters were absolutely great, and knowing what you know in the end, they become even more intriguing when you think about the little nuances in each of their performances. **Do not read further if you haven't seen it the whole way through.**
There are two things that are revealed that aren't really stated as clear facts by anyone on screen... Gensen has that conversation with his uncle at the diner, where he makes it very clear that he suffered horrible abuse by his now deceased father, who died in jail sometime after Gensen left home. However his uncle says something about them being caught for kidnapping and people finding out how Gensen and Ruby had been living for many years and that it was "unnatural". Gensen talks about a particular time during his childhood where abuse had taken place, and how the father did things to Ruby and then made him do things to her as well. The words are never spoken, but it becomes apparent that Gensen and Ruby are brother and sister.
The second thing that isn't really spoken but it becomes obvious at the end, is that Ruby accidentally suffocated the baby when she was trying to muffle her cries, so that they weren't caught by hotel staff. She tells Gensen that she had finally gotten the baby to sleep, and until he hits Ruby with the shovel, you're not 100% sure whether the baby is asleep or dead, although I was thinking she was dead. But it's never plainly said and you only see Ruby holding the blanket the baby is wrapped up in, but not the baby herself.
I believe that Gensen kills Ruby, because he feels he is saving her from what would become her life after they are caught. He expressed concern that she would have a difficult time making it on her own, much less in jail. Now that they couldn't surrender peacefully and return the baby to her mother unharmed, there would be far more severe consequences for Ruby. I believe he feels his killing Ruby is mercy and best for her.
All in all it's a very interesting movie. The story can be somewhat slow and it's a truly tragic one. Not a "feel-good" movie for sure, but the very strong performances and the plot turns & revelations that take place...by the end, it becomes a very original and worthwhile story. I consider myself to be among the more knowledgable and experienced members of most audiences. I also work in the film industry on the production end. This definitely has it's effects on my perspective...which can sometimes be good and sometimes bad. It's a good thing when a movie can surprise me and get me invested. After everything I've seen, when a film gets me emotionally invested and I'm sucked into the story (not picking it apart or thinking "I know how they got that shot")... it usually means they did it right and did it well.
There are two things that are revealed that aren't really stated as clear facts by anyone on screen... Gensen has that conversation with his uncle at the diner, where he makes it very clear that he suffered horrible abuse by his now deceased father, who died in jail sometime after Gensen left home. However his uncle says something about them being caught for kidnapping and people finding out how Gensen and Ruby had been living for many years and that it was "unnatural". Gensen talks about a particular time during his childhood where abuse had taken place, and how the father did things to Ruby and then made him do things to her as well. The words are never spoken, but it becomes apparent that Gensen and Ruby are brother and sister.
The second thing that isn't really spoken but it becomes obvious at the end, is that Ruby accidentally suffocated the baby when she was trying to muffle her cries, so that they weren't caught by hotel staff. She tells Gensen that she had finally gotten the baby to sleep, and until he hits Ruby with the shovel, you're not 100% sure whether the baby is asleep or dead, although I was thinking she was dead. But it's never plainly said and you only see Ruby holding the blanket the baby is wrapped up in, but not the baby herself.
I believe that Gensen kills Ruby, because he feels he is saving her from what would become her life after they are caught. He expressed concern that she would have a difficult time making it on her own, much less in jail. Now that they couldn't surrender peacefully and return the baby to her mother unharmed, there would be far more severe consequences for Ruby. I believe he feels his killing Ruby is mercy and best for her.
All in all it's a very interesting movie. The story can be somewhat slow and it's a truly tragic one. Not a "feel-good" movie for sure, but the very strong performances and the plot turns & revelations that take place...by the end, it becomes a very original and worthwhile story. I consider myself to be among the more knowledgable and experienced members of most audiences. I also work in the film industry on the production end. This definitely has it's effects on my perspective...which can sometimes be good and sometimes bad. It's a good thing when a movie can surprise me and get me invested. After everything I've seen, when a film gets me emotionally invested and I'm sucked into the story (not picking it apart or thinking "I know how they got that shot")... it usually means they did it right and did it well.