IMDb > The Ruins (2008)
The Ruins
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The Ruins (2008) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 29 | slideshow) Videos (see all 25)
The Ruins (2008) -- The Ruins Trailer
The Ruins (2008) -- Clip: That's the path
The Ruins (2008) -- Interview: Shawn Ashmore "On the character development"
The Ruins (2008) -- US Home Video Trailer from Paramount Pictures
The Ruins (2008) -- US Home Video Trailer from Paramount Pictures

Overview

User Rating:
6.0/10   21,255 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 17% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Scott B. Smith (screenplay)
Scott B. Smith (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Ruins on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
4 April 2008 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Terror has evolved.
Plot:
A group of friends whose leisurely Mexican holiday takes a turn for the worse when they, along with a fellow tourist embark on a remote archaeological dig in the jungle, where something evil lives among the ruins. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(62 articles)
New ‘Crazies’ Trailer Ups The Creepy Factor
 (From Screen Rant. 11 December 2009, 6:48 PM, PST)

First set report, exclusive photo from Mother’S Day
 (From Fangoria. 20 October 2009, 12:56 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
A pretty good horror movie more (299 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jonathan Tucker ... Jeff

Jena Malone ... Amy

Laura Ramsey ... Stacy

Shawn Ashmore ... Eric

Joe Anderson ... Mathias

Sergio Calderón ... Lead Mayan

Jesse Ramirez ... Mayan Bowman
Balder Moreno ... Mayan Horseman

Dimitri Baveas ... Dimitri
Patricio Almeida Rodriguez ... Taxi Driver
Mario Jurado ... Mayan Archer

Luis Antonio Ramos ... Mayan Rifleman (as Luis Ramos)
Walter Quispe ... Mayan Rifleman
Pauline Whyman ... Wailing Woman
Nathan Vega ... Mayan Boy
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence and gruesome images, language, some sexuality and nudity.
Runtime:
90 min | 93 min (unrated version)
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Ben Stiller was involved with this film because he is a friend of novelist / screenwriter Scott B. Smith. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Amy loses her glasses while trying to escape from the vines. When she and Stacy are pulled out of the ruins, she has no glasses. Two scenes later, she is wearing glasses again. They disappear for the rest of the film. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Archeologist #2: Help me!
more
Soundtrack:
Mexico Mi Amor more

FAQ

Are the vines in the movie different from the vines in the book?
What language were the natives speaking?
Who lives and who dies?
more
55 out of 87 people found the following comment useful.
A pretty good horror movie, 20 June 2008
8/10

Four American tourists agree to a trip into a South American jungle with a German tourist, to look at an ancient Aztec temple. Once they get there, they find themselves trapped on the temple by some locals. However, they begin to realize however, that they are keeping them there for a horrifying reason....

On the surface, this is yet another movie about American tourists getting into trouble in another country. However, unlike for example Paradise Lost, the Hostel movies, Wolf Creek, and such, the threat here is not from a human source, but something else. It's a refreshing change, but that is only one of the plus points in this good horror movie. There are many more.

The script, written by Scott B. Smith based on his own novel, is pretty good. The characters are well written, and the plot as it unfolds takes it's time to play out, which again is refreshing. Most American horror movies seem to want to rush through the opening scenes, to get to the so-called scare moments, but Smith takes time with his plot, as he did with his other script, the brilliant A Simple Plan. This movie isn't as good as that but it is still good. One of the key things is he never explains how or why the temple is doing what it is doing, yet you never really question it. He allows some intelligence in not only the characters but also in the audience watching. Again, a refreshing change.

The performances from the cast are good. The script allows time for the cast to make their characters believable (for a horror movie)and as the horror and terror mounts, they react in different ways.

The direction by Carter Smith is good. He creates a sense of dread as the the events play out. While the movie is not particularly scary, he creates a sense a good sense of dread, right up to the end, and also doesn't try and cop-out at the end, or allow for some awful twist. Again a welcome change.

The movie does have some scenes that are bloody, or graphic and gory, it's not over the top. There is a reason for the violence in the movie, and also the blood and gore. It's not simply there to gross-out the audience (though the scene with the makeshift amputation will have that effect, no doubt!!).

At a time when most of the American horror movies are either remakes or sequels, it's nice to see a horror movie that while not original at least is different. And for that reason alone, it's worth watching.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Ruins (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Think about it... CAS3343
How would YOU survive the ruins? (SPOILER ALERT) Monkeyfist251
100 things you learnt from Ruins johndillon001
Some stupid things that really annoyed me rsheppard52
other movies with killer vines? mbruckner
Wasnt necessary to 'break' his back even more... zowie9000-1
more

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