rating:
(out of
4 stars)Australia, United States; 2008
Directed by Carter Smith; produced by Chris Bender, Stuart Cornfeld, Jeremy Kramer, Ben Stiller; screenplay by Scott B. Smith
Starring Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Laura Ramsey, Shawn Ashmore, Joe Anderson, Sergio Calderón
Yes, 'The Ruins' may be different, it is still a horror show where youngsters make decisions and say things only horror-characters would do. Some of the tension, which admittedly is there from time to time, is more a result of frustrating choices than exciting things happening. That said, director Carter Smith and writer Scott B. Smith (adapting his own novel into a screenplay) seem to know how to make an effective horror film. If they use real, intelligent character next time we might have something then.
In short, four friends are taken to an ancient temple by a German guy they just met. After they have touched the vile growing on it, they are violently forced to stay on top of the temple by a couple of creepy locals, not hesitating to shoot and kill a person who does not listen. While the locals keep the friends from leaving, they have to come up with a plan to survive. It should be said that the German's brother and his girlfriend are found dead, he himself breaks his back ans is unable to move, and at least one of the four friends is having a mental breakdown. Oh, and the vile seems to be flesh eating.
Especially the reaction to the person about to lose it, is poorly written. Early decisions, after the German's back is broken by falling down into some sort of well, questionable as well. Later in the film this gets better and the film benefits from the tension build up through dialogue. Instead of throwing in the regular gore seen too many times in the past couple of years, 'The Ruins' shows a more satisfying approach. There are some bloody scenes, but so much more effective than in 'Saw IV'. I was actually thinking of the first 'Saw', although a certain scene may have caused that.
In a way my thoughts are pretty positive about this film, but I only award it two stars. I guess this has to do with the "in between" approach it takes. Real fans of horror need need something more than we see in 'The Ruins', and I am not sure where they would rate this. I myself am not a fan of horror - although I appreciate a great deal of them. Here I am still too much annoyed by weird decisions characters make, implausible reactions they give, situations to seperate the women from the men, and I could go on. Maybe I should get passed that, but I can't.