The Ruins

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Gabriel S The Ruins (2008) is a screenplay that Scott B. Smith adapted from his 2006 novel of the same name, a novel that is usually referenced in a bunch of horror lists as a must-read—but that this review won't consider, of course. Director Carter Smith, unrelated to Scott B. Smith, directs this adaptation as his debut feature-length film, he himself in 2025 managing a modest career in filmography. That modesty is different than Scott B. Smith's prominent career in writing and his often endeavors in screenwriting. The story follows a group of young adults on their vacations in Mexico, a bit cooked with their time there already, when they stumble upon this guy that suggests they go on this expedition trip to meet his brother on this ancient ruins in the middle of the jungle. A change of pace, you know, from sunny beaches and parties to a wet, enclosed jungle and ruins as old as the place itself. Little did they know that these ruins hide horrors from centuries old. Supported by great acting, the character development is decent and well-done. Each arc, and the overarching narrative and intersections as the plot thickens, explore interesting lines of traits for each of the characters in our group, thus culminating on their closures, all pleasing according to the story premise. The plot alone is also good. The curveballs are interesting, keeping us hooked to what could happen next. You never know, and that keeps you going on and on until the end; which is where things go south a bit. The existence of an alternate ending is a clear indication that something was amiss. The original ending is too open and lacks closure, that putrid taste you feel when you bite something that looks fresh but happens to be stale. After all we and the characters endure, we wanted closure, goddamit. The alternative is to watch something that tries to wrap everything up but still… A bit unsatisfying. Another thing that might throw people off a bit is the genre: limited-space horror and body horror. Yup, you read it right. The story is good, but we are enclosed to the ruins, and maybe that is a bit stale after a while—for some people. You need to enjoy horror and a good mystery to keep going. The pacing, though, is solid. You get hooked fast and the hook keeps you throughout the whole length of the movie. Never will you bore or want to move faster. Of course, the FXs are superb for 2008. I always wonder what happened to CGI after the early 2000s, something got wrong. Nowadays, with all tech we have, it feels like the old still delivers solid graphics rather than the new. The Ruins is a good film for its genre, so good it got 7 nominations accordingly. You won't see it in scariest movies of all time lists, but you should stumble upon it on lists like movies to watch before you die or specialized lists. The reality is that The Ruins appeals to a niche, and little would you know that, if you like horror, than that niche might be something you enjoy too. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/11/25 Full Review Sue Q Loved this little horror film with its unexpected gruesomeness. It reminded me of all those drive-in movies I used to enjoy many years ago. Definitely worth a watch! Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/06/25 Full Review rick d One of the best horror movies of the decade…..original, you can tell it was based on a book….shows you can make frightening scenes that aren’t so dark that you don’t have a clue what’s going on…loved it when it came out…holds up in 2025. Great acting. Nice twist. A Dreamworks movie surprisingly because it is quite Gorey. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/20/25 Full Review Peter G Unique and original. Cool setting Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/23/25 Full Review Esra Y Had the potential to be a nerve wrecking movie about being trapped in wilderness with a fantasy touch of carnivorous vines but script falls too short for it. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/22/25 Full Review Chris B I don't understand all the hatred for this film. It's not scary in terms of jump scares, but it is stressful, grim, and anxiety inducing. I also like that the horror isn't shrouded in darkness, in fact, part of the fear is from the exposure to the elements. Hideous decision making aside, the story isn't bad and the acting, Ashmore in particular, is pretty decent. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/22/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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