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If you like scary movies like I do, then you have to see this one. The whole point of the horror doesn't make itself known to the viewers until way into the film. It starts with just a smidgen of something going wrong with some girl trapped somewhere and she is dragged away screaming in the dark, but we never really know until later what happened to her. The film picks up with 4 friends sitting by the pool at a resort somewhere near the Yucatan Peninsula. Amy (Jena Malone) and Stacey (Laura Ramsey) are best friends on vacation with their boyfriends Jeff (Jonathon Tucker) and Eric (Shawn Ashmore). When Amy realizes that she lost an earring, a stranger named Mathias (Joe Anderson) finds it at the bottom of the pool and returns it to her. They all become friends over drinks and discuss plans to visit a ancient Mayan site only known to the villagers. The movie really begins when they get the ancient Mayan temple ruins and find that they are trapped by local Mayans who wind up killing one of the friends of Mathias who came with them. They are then forced up the temple face and get stuck on the top. The plants are the temple ruins secrets. Much paranoia ensues as each person is driven to fear by living plants that even mimic their voices. If you are at all squeamish about people cutting into there own flesh, then don't stick around to see Stacy go bananas. The movie keeps you interested up until the end but really never satisfies the catharsis of satisfaction of getting rid of the the culprit, which many films try and do. Although this film was adapted from a horror novel, I don't think the book's ending would leave us all hanging at the end like that. Otherwise, read the book if you are so inclined, then watch the film. I'd say it was around 80% satisfaction level for me so I'll say 4/5. IF YOU LIKE MY REVIEWS, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW BY VOTING. THANKS.Read full review
This is actually a pretty good movie. It has a surprising horror yarn. In its first half hour, a talented young cast reaches the screen with plenty of genuine chills intact. This group of guys and gals take on the Yucatan Peninsula as a vacationing spot. It sure would have helped them to understand/speak the Spanish language. They befriend a German friend and traveler named Mathias. He invites them to accompany him into the jungle to meet up with his archaeologist brother at an "off the map" Mayan temple. They agree to go, but once they arrive, some angry locals (speaking a language the travelers can’t understand) shoot one of their party and refuse to allow them to leave. Lots of shouting and arrows begin flying. A chase ensues. There is only one way to go…and that is UP! The Americans and Mathias retreat to the top of the temple, only to find one lone tent sits atop of the temple and the archaeological camp deserted. Now they are trapped on top of the temple. They can’t come down because death awaits them. Mathias falls into the temple and is badly injured, but that is only the beginning of their troubles, as it soon becomes apparent that the vines covering the temple are alive in a way that goes beyond normal vegetation. Since this was an unexpected serving of disaster, they are on short supply of food, water, and any form of protection. This story, takes on a heavy psychological component as the characters begin to fear for their lives. It’s worth seeing! Two or twenty snakes would have added a nice touch!Read full review
Are you as tired of seeing remakes and movies about the undead as I am? Well then here's something a little different. Not original, but a change of pace. I haven't read the book, but the trailer looked good and so did the cast list. Plus instead of young people being done in one by by zombies, vampires, or a masked slasher it's a variation on the old man vs. nature idea, something not seen much recently and certainly not with so much blood and gore. Pros: A talented and likable young cast. The scenery is lush and beautiful, as is the cinematography. Instead of just jumping right into the horror, the filmmakers try to create suspense and a little build-up. Moves at a pretty good pace. Plenty of moments and images that'll make you cringe. Impressive gore and make-up effects, and plenty of the former. A good and subtle score that sounds like a creepy rumbling sound at times. Cons: As good as the actors are, the characters they play are pretty underwritten, which makes it hard to really get to know them. The CGI is pretty poor. There's really nothing we haven't already seen before. Sometimes the characters do really stupid things. A few cheap boo scares. Final thoughts: Not likely to be the best horror film of the year, but you could do much worse. It's nice to see a horror film that isn't so flashy, teen-friendly, and devoid of suspense, which is exactly what the remake of 'Prom Night,' which hit theaters a week after this, looks like. But I know you hardcore horror buffs know better than that.Read full review
If there's a plotline that doesn’t hold much promise, it’s 4 college kids are attacked by killer vines that talk. And if you want to sell it short, that’s what The Ruins is. But as it turns out, not only is it much better than expected, it’s 1 of the best horror movies of the year so far. Book is better than the movie. Cast is unknown but good. Plot didn’t really hold much promise. But everyone involved gave it their all; an A-Game approach to a B-Movie. The surprising R rating is well-earned, with some truly brutal and shocking moments (such as the first onscreen child killing in a horror movie in ages! YEAH! The movie’s got some goddamn balls!), and some truly impressive (but thankfully sparse) gore as well. It’s also the rare survival horror film in which actual survival elements are implemented. 30 Days Of Night completely botched this part up, with a 30 day time window seeming more like 30 hours, partially due to the fact that getting food/water was never once an issue in the film. Not the case here; we see them rationing their limited food, crafting stretchers and such out of what they have on hand, etc. The main character, Jeff is the most practical of the four. He uses his head to think things through was very good. The other 3 are good too. Jena Malone starts off as an annoying and whiny drunk, but comes into her own as things get worse for the group. Shawn Ashmore and Laura Ramsey are the other two, also impressively more than just attractive kids in a horror movie. There are no stereotypes – they are all intelligent which makes it far more difficult than usual to guess which ones are going to be goners. The Vines don't speak, but mimic the sounds they hear, which include human voices. Apparently it was a bit streamlined from the book, but it seems natural, and is only used twice (to disturbing effect). I'd say see this movie. I won't get awards but it will entertain you more than you thought. Ebay for $5.00 and low S&H and it's a deal!Read full review
Despite negative critism of this film at the box office, I had to see it after reading the great novel of the same name. I loved this film. The cinematic changes from the novel were well done, and perfect for getting across ideas that were crucial to understanding concepts that made this story so excellent. I found the story lines, subtexts, photographic expertise and editing to be first rate, and the actors abilities were 5 stars in portraying the characters. The emotions of frustrated helplessness, terror, and phsycoligical breakdowns in the film were terrifyingly real. As the story progresses and the true horror of the characters predicaments are revealed I found it impossible to not share empathy with the choices they are forced to make and those they could not bring themselves to make. It is a terror film as much as a horror, with the breakdown of their ability to make long term decisions, deal with the building threats to their lives, and the stepping up of a leader who does their best to simply get them through another hour. The horrific moments of attack and death are startling, unbelievably terrifying, and left me as emotionally and mentally effected as the characters themselves by the last scene. The special effects are outstouding, touching, and horrific, as are every other aspect of this film. A superb movie that will haunt my thoughts for some time to come.Read full review
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