[The Ruins]
Plot:Based on the Scott Smith novel, involves 4 american friends vacationing in Cancun, who meet a German tourist named Mathias. Mathias asks for their help in finding his younger brother who was last seen with his new girlfriend headed towards the ruins. They grant his request and agree to help in the search. During the search however, the group find themselves lost in the jungle, and frightened by ominous warnings of impending doom should they continue going ahead.

Cast:Jonathan Tucker, Laura Ramsey, Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore, Caitlin Stasey, Joe Anderson.

My Thoughts:Disturbing.

Review:To be honest, despite all the hype (somewhat)...I really wasn't expecting to be major league impressed by "The Ruins" going into the movie. While when it was all said and done, I wasn't major league impressed per say, I was still impressed nonetheless...which is alot more than what I can say for most of this years theatrical releases not named "Cloverfield". "The Ruins" follows a group of young americans vacationing in Mexico. They soon are introduced to a German man named Mathias, who tells them that his brother went out to visit an ancient Mayan ruins land and he needs to gather up a crew to help go look for him.

Some of the young americans are apprehensive about the trip at first, especially the following morning when they awake from a heavy night of drinking...but Jeff (Tucker) wants to have something cool to tell the folks back home about, so he manages to convince the others, most of all his girlfriend Amy (Malone), who needed the most convincing...to join up with Mathias so they can trek out to the ruins. The group however is unaware of the nightmare that will unfold upon their arrival. "The Ruins" is an interesting horror picture, mostly because it doesn't play out like one would expect it to. It really has alot of different ways of scaring, disturbing, and freaking out it's audience.

It also has many "calm before the storm" moments, with the group traveling to and eventually arriving at the ruins sight where Mathias' brother and his girlfriend were last headed. But once they get there, that's when the terror quickly unfolds. Although, the violence inflicted upon them doesn't come from who you might think at first. Yes, the killer plant in the film is certainly an antagonist which proves to be more than a match for the four young people, but there are also Mayan natives who fear the plant which grows around the ruins, and also fear anyone who has come into contact with it in the least.

These people are serious business...much like cultists or jihadists kill for, and are willing to spill human blood for what they believe in...these natives are willing to spill human blood just to keep anyone who's come into contact with the carnivorous plant from re-entering the jungle and possibly spreading it onto their land. It's an old schoolesque, and very violent style of quarantine which these natives lay upon the youths, who are forced to stay atop the ruins until they die one by one, and the natives can know their land is still safe from the evil plant. The film really takes off early, which makes it alot different from other horror films.

It sets into a mode of psychologically disturbing aspects about 20 minutes in, and really does not let up. The performances of all those involved, which along with Jonathan Tucker and Jena Malone, also includes Laura Ramsey and Shawn Ashmore...really work to heighten the films most impactful scenes, which involve all sorts of gruesomeness. I won't give away too many details, but what takes place atop these ruins with the four americans, and the German tourist Mathias is certainly "horrific". The plant itself transfers from the novel really well as a hungry enemy for the group..and alot of scenes from the novel are in the actual film, and they too transfer over very well.

The plant itself is certainly a living organism born in nature, and even has a few tricks up it's sleeve which it uses to try and ensnare members of the group. There's one scene in particular involving the two female stars of the film which further amplifies how clever a beast this plant really is...and the scene is brilliantly done and creepy as hell to boot! People who hit these movies for the brutal stuff like blood, gore, etc. won't be disappointed either, as along with trippy scenes, psychologically disturbing scenes, and eerie moments in the dark..."The Ruins" also offers up plenty of graphic violence and many scenes that are painful to watch.

I found two scenes in particular to be very cringe-worthy, even for a big time horror movie watcher such as myself, who's seen just about everything done to a human being in these films. The films final act turns out to be just as strong as what came before it, as the numbers of those "still living and breathing" begin to dwindle down considerably, and those still alive realize they have only two options...being eaten alive by the plant, or die trying to pass the natives camped out below the temple.

"The Ruins" is one of the few horror films to be adapted from a novel successfully, and not only that...it is also one of the few horror films of late to deliver what horror audiences get so little of these days, real scares, a disturbing story, good performances, and an overall unsettling feeling as you exit the theater. And really...that's what horror is all about, and "The Ruins" delivers.

Positives:Good performances, a great antagonist in the carnivorous plant, very blood, gory, and disturbing scenes, high blood and gore factor, a disturbing, strong, and intriguing story, a few nicely intense scenes, and a great ending.

Negatives:One death in particular I felt was a bit unfair but, oh well.

Overall:Should be fun for all or most horror film fans.





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