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 NEW)
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   20,890 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Carter Smith
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:
Horror | Thriller more
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
Awards:
1 nomination more
User Comments:
A pretty good horror movie more (299 total)
US TV Schedule:
Fri. Nov. 1310:00 PMHBO   

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:
Australia | USA
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS
Company:
DreamWorks SKG more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Ben Stiller was involved with this film because he is a friend of novelist / screenwriter Scott B. Smith. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the scene where Jeff is cutting Mathias's legs off, Mathias lifts his shoulders and head off the ground yet his back is broken from the fall so he would not be able to do that. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Archeologist #2: Help me!
more
Soundtrack:
Solto O Frango more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Why was the group sequestered?
Why didn't the natives just salt the ruins?
more
53 out of 85 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
Some stupid things that really annoyed me rsheppard52
Stricttly for those who like this Movie...... gauravontheblock
100 things you learnt from Ruins johndillon001
The Ruins 2 katamari16
Jena's awful character guysmiley00
other movies with killer vines? mbruckner
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