Next Door to the Velinsky's

Excellent movie. One of the few greats I've seen coming out of Australia. Horrible subject matter but once you adapt the mindset of " This is life. This happens" It is really a beautifully told but very tragic story. Ruby Taylor (Chloe Traicos) - a child abuse victim chooses to run away from her past and forget everything that happened. But her childhood sweetheart James ( Matt Doran) unexpectedly comes into her world forcing her to remember what she's chosen to deny and forget. This film takes disturbing memories to a new extreme - But at the same time what viewers expect to happen doesn't. There are many unpredictable thrills - not to mention the final twist which you really don't see coming. Am looking forward to this getting a cinema release. Wouldn't mind seeing it again

Love love LOVED this movie. Just a beautiful and touching story. While it has been advertised as a psychological thriller - ( and it is that to a certain extent) but it is also a really touching love story and the story of an abuse victim finding herself again. While I utterly disliked the Ruby character at first I found that she does "grow" on you.This could also be Traicos' performance which is incredibly moving. Matt Doran who plays the male lead is fantastic in the role. And while at first I wanted to kill Ruby by half way through the movie I wanted everything to work out which ( And don't read this if you don't want it to be spoiled) but fortunately it does. But it does this realistically not in a silly Holllywood Happy Ending type of way. Am trying to see if its out on DVD yet but doesn't seem to be. Think I might add to my collection. Great movie. Highly recommend

I really wasn't expecting to like this film. Australian films are not really my thing but this really did keep me interested from the minute it starts. Some parts are confusing - and you need to think about them but on the whole I was pleasantly surprised. Chloe Traicos is magical playing the alcoholic pole dancing abuse victim. Matt Doran - who many may remember as The Matrix Mouse is also brilliant as the male lead. Good performances all round on the whole. But why I liked the film is that it deals closely with the serious issue of child abuse and abuse victims. Parts are sinister. Parts are absolute look away moments but the strong message is there.

Small scale Australian drama concerning telemarketer Ruby (co-writer Traicos) abused as a child being shown how to confront her past by former childhood friend James (Doran). Ultra low budget psychological drama is more like a telemovie in scale and production values, but displays plenty of emotional depth as the pair rekindle their affection amid Ruby's ongoing struggle to reconcile her torrid past.

James has his own demons with which to contend, and when she's not lost in a fantasy world talking to invisible friends, Ruby is ruffling feathers at the local business where a kindly Korean businessman has taken her under his wing (much to the chagrin of his niece who views her colleague's behaviour as detrimental to business growth).

Lack of lighting and shadowy cinematography is sometimes an unwelcome distraction and the makeup applied to Traicos is unusual, but technical issues aside, the story is coherent with a watchable, offbeat performance from Traicos.

This movie Should go far.,,,,, For a little independent its pretty good. Anyone who has had to deal with a history of abuse will find this film incredibly accurate in the way its characters develop. It's also incredibly disturbing in the secrets that are uncovered and by the end you're sitting there reeling - Whoa was that real? But its a good movie. A solid good movie. Chloe Traicos is stunning in the role of the disturbed drunken Ruby. And Matt Doran is brilliant as James her savior. The film might be confusing at first with the massive jump from children playing to sexy pole dancers in a club but .... hang in there. It all makes sense. Although its one of those movies you do need to watch again as the little twists are so clever you'll need to go back to see what you missed the first time. Strongly recommend.