As a critic, when your option is to either see a movie at 10 PM the night before it comes out in order to review it or not see it at all my typical response is to skip it. I have done this numerous times before, but for some strange reason I was compelled to go see The Ruins. I had not seen the trailer and I had not read the graphic novel it’s based on. The only thing I had really seen outside of the cool posters was this promotion, and it intrigued me enough to go see the film. Was I satisfied with my decision? Well, a little bit I guess…
The Ruins centers on four college kids on vacation in Mexico where they meet a German traveler who is going to be heading out into the jungle the next day to meet up with his friend who is checking out some “off the map” ruins with an archaeologist. German man invites the four Americans to join him and away they go. If you have seen anything about the movie you know it is about a Mayan ruin that plays host to a plant that feeds on human flesh and infects its host through cuts and abrasions.
Of course our stars know nothing of this diabolical growth and once they learn it is way too late as they have no choice in staying or going, considering the minute they showed up at the temple they are herded onto its steps by the locals, scared the “disease” will make it anywhere beyond the temple grounds. Suffice to say, it appears they are fucked.
The cast is headed up by Jonathan Tucker, Laura Ramsey, Jena Malone and Shawn Ashmore and each of them does a perfectly fine job considering the roles they play require a lot of screaming, kicking, cutting, yelling, running and worrying. The film itself actually is decent at the very least. I wastes very little time getting into the story as well as offers up a conceivable plot line about three Greeks joining the merry band as they are obviously along only as sacrificial lambs. Fortunately for them only one makes the trip…
For the majority of its 90 minute runtime The Ruins really works, and it only loses its appeal once; in the moments leading up to the finale where it almost seems like the filmmakers just gave up on how to get themselves out of the situation. This is not to say the ending isn’t satisfying, because the ultimate finale is rather good. I just wish they had come up with a better solution to tie up each of the characters’ stories; it simply felt rushed considering the time they took getting them into the situation.
My complaints are small and I actually think those in the need for a fright may get some enjoyment out of this flick. I don’t see it doing much better than last year’s Fox Atomic release Turistas, which compares greatly in tone, but it should entertain some. Gore and gunshot enthusiasts will certainly get their fill, and botanists will be looking twice at those vines they have growing in the greenhouse once or twice before this film fades from their memory.
