The Ruins (2008)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Carter Smith

Writers (WGA):

Scott B. Smith (screenplay)
Scott B. Smith (novel)

Release Date:

4 April 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

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.

Plot Keywords:

Cell Phone | Ruins | Taxi | Mexico | Corpse

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 17

12:00 AM

HBO

Cast

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
Tanisha Marquez-Munduate	...	Mayan Girl
Chris Argirousis	...	Greek
Michelle Atkinson	...	Archeologist
Bar Paly	...	Archeologist
Jordan Patrick Smith	...	Heinrich
Jovina Riveros Padilla	...	Mayan Woman
Lucia Caballero	...	Mayan Woman
Rufino Hernandez	...	Mayan Guard
Carlos Enrique Delgado	...	Mayan Guard
Mario Freire Rivera	...	Mayan Guard
Elmer Alaya	...	Mayan Guard
Jesus Tugumbango	...	Mayan Guard
Karen Strassman	...	Additional Vine Vocal (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Munns	...	Groundskeeper (uncredited)

Directed by
Carter Smith

Writing credits (WGA)
Scott B. Smith		(screenplay)
Scott B. Smith		(novel) (as Scott Smith)

Produced by
Gary Barber	....	executive producer
Chris Bender	....	producer
Roger Birnbaum	....	executive producer
Stuart Cornfeld	....	producer
Trish Hofmann	....	executive producer
Jeremy Kramer	....	producer
Ben Stiller	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Graeme Revell

Cinematography by
Darius Khondji

Film Editing by
Jeff Betancourt

Casting by
Denise Chamian

Production Design by
Grant Major

Art Direction by
Brian Edmonds		(supervising art director)
Michelle McGahey
John Wingrove		(as JD Wingrove)

Costume Design by
Lizzy Gardiner

Makeup Department
Paige Badenoch	....	hair stylist
Paige Badenoch	....	makeup artist
René Dashiell Kerby	....	makeup artist: reshoots
Jake Garber	....	special makeup effects artist: additional photography
Laura Kennard	....	hair stylist
Laura Kennard	....	makeup artist
Jennifer Lamphee	....	makeup artist
Christine Spiller	....	hair stylist: additional unit
Christine Spiller	....	makeup artist: additional unit
Shane Thomas	....	hair stylist supervisor
Shane Thomas	....	makeup supervisor
Debbie Zoller	....	makeup department head: re-shoots

Production Management
Troy Clarke	....	unit manager
Karen Ruth Getchell	....	production supervisor: additional photography
Trish Hofmann	....	unit production manager
Sharon Miller	....	unit production manager
Jake Rice	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeff Betancourt	....	second unit director
Bish Bishop	....	second second assistant director
Jamie Crooks	....	first assistant director
Charles Mann	....	third assistant director
Jonathan McGarry	....	first assistant director
Angela McPherson	....	second assistant director (as Angella McPherson)
Paul Schmitz	....	second assistant director (as Paul A. Schmitz)

Art Department
John Andersen	....	on-set props
Richard Backman	....	model maker
Bob Booker	....	property master
Timothy Burgard	....	storyboard artist
Gillian Butler	....	set dresser
Tom Caddy	....	lead art finisher
Daniel Cairns	....	assistant property master
Graeme Callander	....	storyboard artist
Gary Cameron	....	lead vines maker
Pat Carr	....	props
Laura Elkington	....	set dresser
Jo-Anne Fletcher	....	art finisher
Doug Franks	....	on-set props
Ashley Alan Geary	....	props
Irene 'Pida' Gleeson	....	art finisher (as Irene Gleeson)
Trevor Goring	....	storyboard artist
Benton Jew	....	illustrator
George Kabiotis	....	graphic designer
Klaus Kastberg	....	set designer
John Lambert	....	lead person
Leslie Landon	....	greens
Brett C. Langby	....	greens foreperson
Chris Laverty	....	greens
Dave Leenders	....	greens
Nigel Le Roux	....	greens
Leigh Mackie	....	concept illustrator
David McBurney	....	buyer
David McBurney	....	dresser
Nigel McKee	....	greens
James Millett	....	model maker
Kristin Reuter	....	props
Emma Rudkin	....	buyer
Emma Rudkin	....	dresser
Kris Swales	....	buyer
Kris Swales	....	dresser
Dilys Tan	....	art department coordinator (as Dilys M. Tan)
Brent Tasker	....	greens
Michelle Thatcher	....	buyer
Michelle Thatcher	....	dresser
Barry Thompson	....	head props maker
Darren Unsgaard	....	props
Tony Voevodin	....	props (as Anthony Voevodin)
Ronald Wallekers	....	head greensman
John Whatford	....	greens coordinator
John Whatford	....	vines coordinator
Paula Whiteway	....	set designer
Prudence Williams	....	art department accountant

Sound Department
Kami Asgar	....	sound effects editor
David Betancourt	....	foley mixer
Tracy Bolt	....	sound mix technician
Beau Borders	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Branca	....	sound facilities coordinator: Sony
Paul 'Salty' Brincat	....	sound mixer
Dorian Cheah	....	sound designer
Dorian Cheah	....	supervising sound effects editor
Rod Conder	....	boom operator (as Rodney Conder)
Michael Dressel	....	foley editor
Dawn Fintor	....	foley artist
Jeff Gomillion	....	adr mixer
Scott G.G. Haller	....	dialogue editor
Jonathan Klein	....	foley supervisor
John Marquis	....	supervising sound editor
Herwig Maurer	....	sound effects editor
Julianne McCormack	....	sound facilities coordinator: Sony
Sean McCormack	....	supervising sound editor
Eric Nagy	....	sound effects editor
Erin Oakley	....	adr supervisor
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stacey Parish	....	cable person
Lisa Pinero	....	production sound mixer: additional photography
Eryne Prine	....	assistant sound editor
Jacob Riehle	....	first assistant sound editor
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist (as Phillip Rodgers)
Christopher Sposa	....	boom operator: additional photography
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Tim Tuchrello	....	sound effects editor
John Wakeham	....	sound effects editor
David Weisberg	....	adr mixer
Mark Sheffield	....	sound mix technician (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jason Baird	....	prosthetics effects supervisor
Bruce Bright	....	special effects coordinator
Jac Charlton	....	prosthetics technician
Robert Charlton	....	prosthetics technician
Mark Cleary	....	prosthetics technician
Charmaine Connelly	....	prosthetics artist
Rick Connelly	....	prosthetics artist
Gab Facchinei	....	prosthetics artist (as Gabrielle Facchinei)
David Fletcher	....	special effects supervisor
Dean Franklin	....	special effects technician
Karen Grose	....	prosthetics coordinator
Richard Howie	....	lead special effects technician
Matt Keogh	....	special effects technician (as Matthew Keogh)
Allison Klein	....	studio coordinator: Tatopoulos Studios
Jim Leng	....	lead special effects technician
Brendan McHale	....	special effects technician
Robert McKinnon	....	conceptual artist: Tatopoulos Studios
Greg Oliver	....	special effects technician
Steven Parker	....	prosthetics artist
James Paul	....	lead special effects technician
Mark Stone	....	lead special effects technician
Julian Summers	....	special effects technician
Patrick Tatopoulos	....	creature designer
Rebecca Thiele	....	special effects technician
Jon Turburfield	....	senior animator

Visual Effects by
Beverly Abbott	....	visual effects coordinator
Nacho Barahona	....	render wrangler: Rising Sun Pictures
Dan Bethell	....	research and development technical director: Rising Sun Pictures
Jessica Braun	....	lighting techical director
David C. Bryant	....	CGI supervisor: Pixel Playground
Romain Buignet	....	digital effects artist
Darren Byford	....	lead lighting technical director
Ben Campbell	....	lighting technical director
Fred Chapman	....	lead rigger: Rising Sun Pictures
Tim Christensen	....	digital compositor: Frantic Films
Wes Cilldhaire	....	render wrangler: Rising Sun Pictures
Sam Cole	....	senior compositor: Fuel International
Laurence Dodd	....	pre-vis artist
Michael Dohne	....	digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Amanda Elmendorf	....	visual effects assistant
Karin Eunson-Ross	....	visual effects production manager: Frantic Films
Suzanne Evans-Booth	....	visual effects coordinator
Anouchka Farrenc	....	character animator: Rising Sun Pictures
Mitchell Ferm	....	visual effects producer
William Gammon	....	compositor: Rising Sun Picture
William Gammon	....	data wrangler: Rising Sun Picture
Kyle Goodsell	....	digital compositor (Rising Sun Pictures)
Katie Goodwin	....	visual effects editor: RSP
Kim Gordon	....	digital compositor
Sam Hancock	....	technical director
Katie Hecker	....	digital compositor
Keith Herft	....	compositing lead
Sam Hodge	....	lighting technical director: Rising Sun Pictures
Malcolm Humphreys	....	CG supervisor: Rising Sun Pictures
Jan Huybrechs	....	3D scanning: Eyetronics
Marco Iozzi	....	senior lighting artist
Dennis Jones	....	digital compositor
Jiwoon Kim	....	digital compositor
Daniel Kmet	....	animator
Carsten Kolve	....	research & development: Rising Sun Pictures
Ivan La Rosa	....	effects rigging technical director: Rising Sun Pictures
Jennifer Law-Stump	....	digital compositor
Don Lee	....	visual effects supervisor: Pixel Playground
Kim Lee	....	visual effects producer: Pixel Playground
Tyler Lee	....	data wrangler
Jarrod Linton	....	digital effects artist
Ken McGaugh	....	visual effects supervisor: Rising Sun Pictures
Gregory L. McMurry	....	visual effects supervisor
Luke Millar	....	lead lighting technical director
Norah Mulroney	....	digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Ben Myers	....	digital compositor: Frantic Films
Donal Nolan	....	digital compositor
James P. Noon	....	tracking
Rob Nunn	....	pre-vis artist (as Robert Nunn)
Premamurti Paetsch	....	visual effects artist
Nick Pill	....	art director: vfx
Nick Pitt-Owen	....	visual effects artist
Dane Rapaport	....	digital compositor
Benjamin Rayner	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Jonathan Reynolds	....	digital artist
Kurtis Richmond	....	lead matte artist: FUEL International
Mark Robben	....	digital compositor: Pixel Playground
Ben Roberts	....	digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Johannes Saam	....	research and development technical director: Rising Sun Pictures
Tara Schellenberg	....	visual effects coordinator: Frantic Films
Randal Shore	....	visual effects producer: Frantic Films
Bobby Silman	....	digital compositor: Frantic Films
Christoph Sprenger	....	research and development: Rising Sun Pictures
Max Stummer	....	digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Daniel Thompson	....	visual effects artist
Richard Thwaites	....	visual effects coordinator
Mark Tremble	....	digital compositor
Les Turner	....	animator
Robert Ward	....	visual effects artist
Ben Warner	....	digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Jeremy West	....	camera tracker
James Whitlam	....	visual effects executive producer: Rising Sun Pictures
Gavin Wright	....	previsualization artist: Proof
Alfred Young	....	lighting technical director
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Kenneth Nakada	....	vfx concept design: Zen Haven Studios (uncredited)

Stunts
Lee Adamson	....	stunt performer
Lee Adamson	....	stunt rigger
Ian Bostock	....	stunts
Renee Bowen	....	stunts
Ben Bray	....	stunt coordinator
Raelene Chapman	....	stunt double: amy
Haydn Dalton	....	stunt assistant
Wally Dalton	....	stunts
Mitch Deans	....	stunt coordinator
Thomas Dewier	....	utility stunts
Sam Elia	....	stunts
Steve Harman	....	stunt rigger
Nicholas Lawson	....	stunts
Scott McLean	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Matthew Spriggs	....	stunts
Alicia Vela-Bailey	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Lui Alefosio	....	rigger
James Baines	....	rigger
Luke Barlow	....	additional second assistant camera
Ian Barton	....	second company grip
Mark Bills	....	electrician
Matthew Blyth	....	video assist
Bradley Boterhoek	....	grip
Robbie Boyd	....	electrician (as Robert Boyd)
Amanda Bradford	....	rigger
Simon Christidis	....	underwater cinematographer
Dominic Connor	....	rigging electrician
Simon Cooke	....	dolly grip operator
James Crane	....	electrician
Tristan Davies	....	additional second assistant camera
Graeme Dew	....	rigging supervisor
Sebastian Dickins	....	rigger
David Elmes	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Reg Garside	....	chief lighting technician
Brendan Jakins	....	rigger
Mark Jefferies	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Simon Killingly	....	rigger
Leith Klaffer	....	second company rigging grip
Wayne Lauder	....	first company rigging grip
David 'Rusty' Leckonby	....	grip
Steve Mackay	....	rigger
John McGonegle	....	lighting technician
David Misura	....	rigger
Cameron Morley	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Jesse Moyes	....	electrician
Phil Mulligan	....	rigging electrician (as Phillip Mulligan)
Cameron Murchison	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
David Nichols	....	first company grip
Bruce Olinder	....	chief lighting technician: second unit
Peter Quinn	....	video operator
Henry Richards	....	rigger
Michael Ryan	....	rigger
Matt Slattery	....	chief rigging electrician (as Matthew Slattery)
Peter Smith	....	second company rigging grip
Jeff Snyder	....	video assist operator
Joe Stick	....	rigging electrician (as Joseph Stick)
Luke Stone	....	dolly grip
Bob Szerszyn	....	rigger
Laurence Thomas	....	rigger
Gordon Tier	....	electrician
Vince Valitutti	....	still photographer
Matthew Weston	....	film loader
Jörg Widmer	....	Steadicam operator
Jörg Widmer	....	camera operator: "b" camera
David Williamson	....	camera operator
Allan Willis	....	rigging electrician
Matt Windon	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Matthew Windon)
Colin Wyatt	....	electrician

Animation Department
Tim Kings-Lynne	....	animator
Brian Ward	....	animator

Casting Department
Natalie Ballesteros	....	casting assistant
Nikki Barrett	....	casting: Australia
Angela Demo	....	casting associate
Leslee Feldman	....	casting executive
Bud Hopes	....	background casting
Ben Parkinson	....	casting: Australia
Jennifer Venditti	....	casting: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wendy Asher	....	costumer (as Wendy Asher Gallagher)
Adam Dalli	....	costumer
Alecia De Marco	....	costume buyer
Helen Maggs	....	lead costumer
Amy Mitchell	....	costumer
Tina Symonds	....	costumer
Kerry Thompson	....	costume supervisor
Samantha Walker	....	costumer

Editorial Department
John Peter Bernardo	....	associate editor (as J.P. Bernardo)
Elena Bovetti	....	editorial production assistant
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Beth Dewey	....	digital intermediate producer
Todd Fulkerson	....	first assistant editor: US
Leilani Gushiken	....	post-production coordinator
Mandy Jacobs	....	first assistant editor: Australia
Curtis Lindersmith	....	digital intermediate editor
Yvan Lucas	....	colorist: Efilm
David Matusek	....	second assistant editor
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Robert E. Phillips	....	digital intermediate assistant producer: EFILM
Tom Reiser	....	colorist assist: Efilm
Larry Engelmann	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
Mark Curry	....	music mixer
Mark Curry	....	music recordist
Greg Hayes	....	pro tools operator
Ashley Revell	....	additional music editor
Graeme Revell	....	conductor: orchestra
Graeme Revell	....	orchestrator
David E. Russo	....	music programmer (as David Russo)
David E. Russo	....	orchestrator (as David Russo)
Joshua Winget	....	music editor
Gina Zimmitti	....	orchestra contractor

Other crew
Blake Archer	....	location manager
Angelique Badenoch	....	assistant production coordinator
Adam Bagger	....	assistant: Mr. Smith
Eric Bailey	....	production assistant
Sean F. Barth	....	product placement (as Sean Barth)
Lynn Benzie	....	production liaison
Lara Breay	....	development executive
Remi Broadway	....	stand-in
Katie Brock	....	animal wrangler (as Katie Brock-Medland)
Suzie Bruce	....	production accountant
Jenny Lynn Burnett	....	post-production accountant
Kim Buttlar	....	coordinator: Mr. Barber
Celeste Cavanagh	....	stand-in
Anthea Charalambous	....	assistant: Mr. Bender
Kaleb Day	....	medic
Natalia de Palma	....	stand-in
Jessica Dowdswell	....	stand-in
Rachel Duxbury	....	payroll accountant
Narelle Dyer	....	production secretary
Matt Eppedio	....	assistant: Mr. Cornfeld
Lisa Fiorito	....	researcher
Rachael Lin Gallaghan	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Karen Garlich	....	payroll accountant: re-shoots
Lachlan Gartshore	....	stand-in
Barker Gerard	....	assistant: Mr. Smith
Michelle Gerber	....	accounting assistant
Jeff Gribble	....	armorer
Clare Hallas	....	assistant: Mr. Hofmann
Judy Hallin	....	production coordinator
Kristy Hamby	....	production assistant (as Kristy Nelson)
Felicity Handley	....	production assistant
Kelly Head	....	petty cash accountant
Shane Heldon	....	production assistant
Helen Howard	....	german dialect coach
Quaid Hutchinson	....	stand-in
Alan Khamoui	....	assistant: Mr. Kramer
Michael Knott	....	stand-in
Brock LaBorde	....	assistant: Mr. Hofmann
Nicole La Praik	....	production assistant
Jacinta Leong	....	modeler: 3D CAD
Tai Logsdon	....	office production assistant: additional photography
Marie Mercuri	....	production assistant
Allan Mowbray	....	armorer (as Alan Mowbray)
Angela Nancarrow	....	stand-in
Antoinette O'Neill	....	script supervisor
Lynn Paetz	....	production liaison
Erica Palm	....	assistant: Mr. Stiller
Jeremy Piggott	....	production assistant
Jill Remis	....	assistant: Mr. Stiller
Rachel Roberts	....	assistant: Mr. Bender
Brett Robinson	....	stand-in
Blair Rudes	....	mayan dialogue coach
Margaret Russell	....	medic
Deborah Santic	....	stand-in
Fiona Searson	....	unit publicist
Russell Steele	....	financial controller: U.S.A.
Scott Stewart	....	assistant location manager
Tom Stewart	....	stand-in
Shelly Strong	....	production executive
Deborah Sutherland	....	financial controller: Australia
Lisa Thomas	....	assistant production coordinator
Marlena Thomas	....	coordinator: Mr. Birnbaum
Zelie Thompson	....	animal wrangler (as Zelie Bullen)
Chris Turner	....	stand-in
Jacob Turner	....	stand-in
Ryan Verbruggen	....	production assistant
Charlie Ward	....	assistant: Mr. Cornfeld
Kelly Weiler	....	production assistant
Jeanine Wilson	....	first assistant accountant: reshoots
Michael Wolstenholme	....	assistant accountant
Sarah Young	....	stand-in
Morgan Ahlborn	....	production secretary: los angeles unit (uncredited)
Judith Babcock	....	technical supervisor: dailies (uncredited)

Production Companies

• DreamWorks SKG (presents) (as DreamWorks Pictures)
• Spyglass Entertainment (presents)
• Red Hour Films
• Internationale Filmproduktion Prometheus (in association with)
• BenderSpink (uncredited)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures International (2008) (worldwide) (all media)
• Paramount Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Forum Entertainment (2008) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Myndform (2008) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2008) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Village Films (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2008) (Argentina) (all media)

Special Effects

• Frantic Films
• Patrick Tatopoulos Design
• Pixel Playground
• Proof (pre-visualization)
• Rising Sun Pictures (visual effects)

Other Companies

• 424 Post  sound post-production
• Absolute Rentals  post-production rentals
• Act One Script Clearance  script research services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Executive Assurance  security
• NPI Production Services  payroll services - sound editors
• Runway  post-production
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound re-recorded at
• Synxspeed  post-production facilities (foreign dub)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and gruesome images, language, some sexuality and nudity.

Runtime:

90 min | 93 min (unrated version)

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English | Maya | Spanish | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:16 | Australia:MA | Netherlands:16 | UK:18 | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Finland:K-18 | USA:R (certificate #44170) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Manitoba/Ontario) | Sweden:15 | South Africa:16LV | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Norway:15 | France:-12 | Italy:VM14 | Germany:16 (f) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Australia:R | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

Ben Stiller was involved with this film because he is a friend of novelist / screenwriter Scott B. Smith.

Goofs:

Continuity: The scar on Jeff's chin changes throughout the movie. In the scenes where there are talking to Mayans, there looks to be a fresh cut there. In earlier parts of the movie, it looks like an old scar.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Archeologist #2: Help me!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Ashton Kutcher/Gnarls Barkley (#33.10)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Phenomena

Oh, Goody! Let's Watch More Pretty Twenty-Somethings Die...

You already know the drill. You've seen what this genre can produce before, and you're pretty sure you've seen the best and the worst of it. From bygone days, JUST BEFORE DAWN. HELL NIGHT. MY BLOODY VALENTINE. LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. THE HILLS HAVE EYES. THE EVIL DEAD. And from the past couple of decades, HOSTEL. TURISTAS. WRONG TURN. JOY RIDE.

And of course, the film to which THE RUINS will probably get the most comparisons, CABIN FEVER. Except instead of being set out in the middle of CHAINSAW territory, now it's an ancient sprawl of Mayan ruins. The fact that Four Beautiful Gen-X'ers are involved is about where the similarities end. Mr. Eli Roth, I'm sorry to inform you that you got served.

Because just when you think that THE RUINS is really nothing more than just another yawn-inducing slasher movie, it takes this turn into THE OUTER LIMITS that you don't ever expect it to. And it's so much the better - and more terrifying - for that.

Jonathan Tucker (HOSTAGE, Showtime's MASTERS OF HORROR), Jena Malone (BASTARD OUT OF CAROLINA), Shawn Ashmore (the X-MEN series) and Laura Ramsey (LORDS OF DOGTOWN) star as two best friends and their respective boyfriends on vacation in Mexico, for a period of beaches, booze and "knockin' da boots" before Tucker's character, Jeff, takes the educational equivalent of the Bataan Death March: attending med school.

The whole nightmare starts pretty simply, as nightmares often do in these things. The two couples meet cute with a German tourist, Mathias (Joe Anderson), whose own girlfriend, an archaeologist, has gone to her latest dig with Mathias's brother. He invites his new friends to come with, and since there's not much more excitement to be had, other than getting fit-to-puke drunk on too much cheap tequila, they take him up on his offer.

Really. Bad. Move.

The Fearless Foursome go to the dig site with Mathias and his friend, Dimitri (Dimitri Baveas) and nothing too alarming or remarkable happens along the way. It's when they get there that the fajitas really hit the fan. Because this set of ruins is no ordinary dig site. And if you have prepared yourself in advance for the ghost of some ticked-off Mayan god ready to rip out the hearts of these intruding Americanos, you are way off-base, my friend. What they find is more insidious, horrific and literally creepy than anything you've seen in a long, LONG time.

Kudos must immediately go to Scott Smith, the author of A SIMPLE PLAN, for adapting his page-turner of a runaway bestseller into something that should make Stephen King green with envy. The core idea is not an original one, but the way Smith uses it and his depictions of how it affects the characters involved is Grade-A 100% pure classic horror. Director Carter Smith, with his major movie debut, is great at ratcheting up the scares and the gore quotient as he wrings some pretty genuine performances from his cast.

But the nasty creepiness and dread are just the black frosting on this rotting cake. Dig underneath and you get some super bonuses: one scene that will forever make the "hobbling" scene from MISERY seem like a Sesame Street cakewalk, and one unbelievably goose-bump raising sequence that will forever have you getting freaked out about your cell phone. I can't tell you why...because the less you know about it, the more terrifying it is.

Yes, the creative forces here make the most of milking the themes of isolation, hopelessness and impending death. But it's the HOW, not the why that sets THE RUINS apart from any other movie of its kind that's been made before or since.

Right now, I would rank this one right up there with Neil Marshall's THE DESCENT as one of the Top Ten Best Horror Films made in this decade.

Gee, in spite of all the remakes still ongoing, maybe there is still some hope for horror after all.

I can promise you this much: THE RUINS is as good a description for what your nerves will be like by the climax, as it is the title of a very good horror thriller.