Ruination

There are few films that tackle mental illness, and fewer that tackle it honestly. Even so, many films that deal with mental health tend to isolate the viewer, so to speak, serving as merely a window into the minds and hearts of the characters, a demonstration of their reality. But Ruination is a film in a caliber all on its own, smashing that window and throwing you in to this reality, a reality that all too many experience. The strong writing is amplified by organic and powerful performances, especially from Jim Rigsby as a stoic yet human Death. The music performed Annandale creates a wonderful soundtrack which both complements the film and stands on its own as a wonderful album. This gorgeously shot film will rip out your heartstrings; yet this catharsis is what makes Ruination one of the strongest mental health films out there, and one of the best short films of the past several years.