The Ruins

Name: The Ruins
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: April 4, 2008
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 44
Cast: Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker, Shawn Ashmore

2008

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 106 Ratings

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7.2

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 106 Ratings

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The Ruins

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: April 4, 2008 | R

Starring: Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker, Shawn Ashmore

Summary: Based on the terrifying best-seller by Scott Smith, The Ruins follows a group of friends who become entangled in a brutal struggle for survival after visiting a remote archaeological dig in the Mexican jungle, where they discover something deadly living among the ruins. (DreamWorks)

Director: Carter Smith

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 90 min

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Critic Reviews

James Berardinelli

In order to appreciate The Ruins, one has to be a die-hard fan of horror or bloody thrillers. Those in that category will discover that The Ruins delivers the goods. Read full review

Wesley Morris

A surprisingly effective little horror nightmare. Read full review

Jim Ridley

First-time feature director Carter Smith, working with resourceful cinematographer Darius Khondji, pulls off the neat trick of using the wide screen to claustrophobic effect. And the actors give such a convincing display of starvation-fueled fear that they deserve their own private craft-service table. Read full review

Ken Fox

Smith has changed a few plot points around to keep readers who already know the secret of the ruins guessing, and to some extent the strategy works. There was, however, no reason whatsoever to change the book's perfect endings. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

The Ruins is lumpish, static, and obvious. It's a gringos-go-home cautionary fright flick done in the spirit of a cheap '50s horror movie, except that it leaves you longing for the competence of grade-Z studio-system trash. Read full review

Dennis Harvey

Ultimately less dependent on suspense or even scares than on squirm-inducing grossouts, this tale of Yank hardbodies vs. carnivorous creepers should flower briefly in hardtops, then spread like an invasive weed in ancillary. Read full review

Marc Savlov

As it stands, The Ruins is about as interesting as a pile of old stones and a monkey-dumb yanqui falling prey to the horrors of globalization. And that's pretty dumb. Read full review

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User Reviews

GrantZ

Aug 24, 2009

Ignore the haters, The Ruins is probably one of the best movies of recent times. It isn't cliche and it truly is shocking in places, the monster gets into one of the females, causing some of the most disturbing scenes i've ever seen in a movie. Scenes of amputation, are included. Ignore the haters, The Ruins is probably one of the best movies of recent times. It isn't cliche and it truly is shocking in places, the monster gets into one of the females, causing some of the most disturbing scenes i've ever seen in a movie. Scenes of amputation, are included. But there isn't too much blood. It instils a sense of fear by making you realize that in the end, we truly are our greatest enemies, when stuck in terrifying situations.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

FraierM.

Apr 5, 2008

This is the most gory movie ever! Seriously. My date almost threw up at the leg part. This is a high intense movie that really gets under your skin. It follows the book good, except for a few parts and they switched two ppl around... but other than that, it was a good follower.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TiagoM.

Jul 10, 2008

IS really not very original, but the cast is very good, the locations is ok and the tension is great!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

czar

Aug 14, 2008

I enjoyed this horror. It was edgy and suspenseful. As with any horror there are gaps in the story and lots of "why didn't they .." and "if only then" - but that is not the point. We had a good nights viewing and that is what it is about.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

GigiM.

Apr 24, 2008

Interesting setting and hot cast, but it lost me when the vines got grabby and the flowers started making noise -- very Little Shop of Horrors. Gory/gross and yet too silly to be great.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

TheMovieCritic

Aug 19, 2012

The idea of a horror movie set in a mayan ruin is interesting right? Right. It's just that this movie isn't anywhere close to interesting or scary. It is just boring and fails to entertain you, and what was meant to be scary ends up being plain out annoying. I'm talking about the screamingThe idea of a horror movie set in a mayan ruin is interesting right? Right. It's just that this movie isn't anywhere close to interesting or scary. It is just boring and fails to entertain you, and what was meant to be scary ends up being plain out annoying. I'm talking about the screaming plants of course. Definitely skip this one.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

Ryencoke

Apr 8, 2008

This movie was just horrible. Boring, Lame. Plot went nowhere. You don't see no monster/cool thing. Seriously so horrible.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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