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 114 Ratings

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7.2

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 114 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

TV Guide Magazine 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

KittyJ.

Apr 5, 2008

The beauty of this film is its ability to transcend simple body-horror to sheer psychological terror. The cast does an incredible job of selling the villain, something that I, myself, was skeptical of when told of the book. As a person heavily affected and in love with the book, I had a lot The beauty of this film is its ability to transcend simple body-horror to sheer psychological terror. The cast does an incredible job of selling the villain, something that I, myself, was skeptical of when told of the book. As a person heavily affected and in love with the book, I had a lot riding on this film. I think it does a great job of living up to expectations and satisfying the horror lover in all of us. While I'm not entirely sold on the ending and do believe it needed another 15 minutes or so to really drive the terrifying story home, it's a true delight and worth the $10.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

zNeverSleeping

Aug 30, 2020

O longa tem altos e baixos, porém minha imersão foi tamanha que eu não consigo ser tão chato quanto a isso.

A principio, os personagens são apresentados e seus arquétipos são postos em ação, porém, o mais interessante aqui é que o roteiro sabe muito bem como trabalhar com cada um deles.O longa tem altos e baixos, porém minha imersão foi tamanha que eu não consigo ser tão chato quanto a isso.

A principio, os personagens são apresentados e seus arquétipos são postos em ação, porém, o mais interessante aqui é que o roteiro sabe muito bem como trabalhar com cada um deles. Para um filme de terror, eles estão longe de serem unidimensionais. Apesar de gostar bastante do personagem, o aspirante a medico era talvez... racional demais pra ser verdade, porém o longa dá indícios de que ele tem um olhar indiferente a sentimentos, como o fato dele obviamente saber e não fazer nada quanto a traição da namorada dele.

O maior ponto do filme é a tensão. O suspense aqui é feito de diversas formas, em diversos momentos e ele sempre funciona bem. Em diversos momentos me encontrei tenso e com medo do que havia por vir pelos personagens. Era como se eu estivesse lá com eles - ou pelo menos com muita pena dos mesmos. Isso é indicio de uma boa construção de personagem. O suspense envolvendo o "mal maior" do filme funciona bem. Tudo faz sentido uma hora - antes mesmo dos personagens explicarem. Uma cena especifica no meio do filme pode caracterizá-la como uma das mais agonizantes que já vi. Minha empatia já é deveras alta, então imagina-se como reagi a ela.

No que se diz respeito ao aspectos técnicos, o filme tem um gore incrivelmente fidedigno, sem exageros nem nada. A edição de vídeo lida muito bem com o suspense, e é claro que há um grande mérito na direção por parte disso. A cenografia é boa e indica muitas coisas, acrescentando na narrativa instantânea e progressivamente. Para um terror de 2008, até que há poucos clichês e momentos previsíveis. Eles, ao meu ver, me impedem de dar uma nota mais positiva, porém, não me incomodaram tanto quanto eu achei que aconteceria. A trama me prendeu tanto que eu nem queria saber deles. Exceto no final, que me deixou com um "sério mesmo?", na cabeça.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jmsbpp

Jul 4, 2013

Alcanza a lograr el suspenso, el tema y la idea para una buena película, sin embargo Las Ruinas se queda atascada en el mismo rollo durante buena parte de la pelicula

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Kiva

Jun 24, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie starts with a good idea but as the film goes disappointment comes to your eyes. It is not scary it just have some mystery and when something is revealed you are like you have earned nothing from that movie. something with some plants happened i think. ReAlLy … Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mike

Oct 19, 2008

A very silly, laughable movie. And this was suppose to be a horror?!?

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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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