In The Ruins, four dumb college-aged American tourists in Mexico accompany a friendly German to an "off-the-map" archeological dig at a Mayan temple. Once they arrive, they are forced up the temple by upset locals, and quarantined. Why are they being held there? What is the secret of the temple? Rest assured, blood will flow and not all will live to see the safety of home by the time the end credits roll.
Fun fact: This was likely the first R rated film I saw alone in theaters. I remember TRL (Total Request Live) heavily promoting it during their spring break coverage, and that was what ultimately compelled me to see it. This most recent viewing was of the theatrical cut, which I haven't seen since back in that theater all those years ago. So, how does it hold up?
Having just completed reading the novel this film was based on, I walked in with a different perspective this time around. I imagine those that read the novel and those that didn't had a vastly different experience watching this adaptation.
In short, as an adaptation, the movie sucks (which really shouldn't be the case, seeing as the sole screenwriting credit on IMDB goes to Scott Smith, who also wrote the novel). A lot of the events remain the same, but most of them happen to different characters in the film than they do in the novel (for example, in the novel it's Pablo/Demetri who falls down the mine shaft, and in the film it's Mathias. The Mathias character is given much more to do in the novel, and he is the one who imo is the closest to being likable) .
The characters are also softened a bit here, as they are mostly unlikable in the novel, albeit realistically so (ie, Jeff is the worst in the novel. He's competent, but has "main character syndrome" and resents everyone else for not being as adept at survival as he is. He spends most of the novel arguing and yelling at his friends). The novel and film also vary a great deal in how they choose to wrap things up.
A problematic change from novel-film is the decision to make Stacy( a "spacey" blonde white girl) suffer much more in the film. Having read the novel, the change feels icky and wrong (most of her torment in the book is reserved for Eric, her boyfriend). The change feels exploitative, and speaks volumes on what is perceived by screenwriters and studios to be horror audience's wants and desires.
Judging this film as it's own thing, how does it fare? The cast (Jenna Malone as Amy, Jonathan Tucker as Jeff, Laura Ramsey as Stacy, Shawn Ashmore as Eric, and Joe Anderson as Mathias) is mostly game, with Jonathan Tucker being the most memorable part of it. His Jeff makes for a very likable and competent leader, despite some flaws. The carnage that occurs atop the temple ain't anything to shake a stick (or vine) at either. The film shies away from most of the bloodshed, but the little we do see is enough to get most stomachs churning (Remember, the version I'm reviewing here is the R rated cut. I haven't seen the Unrated cut in a while, but I'm pretty sure it's significantly more bloody).
The setting of the temple is one of the most memorable aspects of the film (and it's completely absent from the novel. The Ruins in the novel are a vine-covered hill, with a mine shaft atop). The premise of becoming an unwitting and unwilling part of a sacrifice that goes back hundreds of years (at least) is also pretty horrifying and certainly original/unique enough.
It's appreciated that the Mayan locals aren't just portrayed as villains. They definitely appear antagonistic at first, but as events transpire atop of the temple, it slowly becomes clear what the local's original intent was. You can see it all on the face of the Lead Mayan (portrayed with humanity by Sergio Calderon) near the end of the film: Sympathy, regret, sadness. This is not something the Mayan locals want to do, or something they enjoy watching.
The direction by Carter Smith (and no, as far as I could find, he's not related to Scott Smith) is competent and average. The cinematography by Darius Khondji is pretty good. The settings all look pretty appealing under his touch (even that temple), and he appears to use some oversaturation at moments to simulate the blaring heat. The score by Graham Revell is mostly fine. It can be distracting and generic at times, but at others it's effective.
The Ruins works because it was built on a strong foundation (The novel is arguably far better than the film), it's premise is fairly horrific, and the setting of the temple is a memorable one. The villain/s of the film can definitely come across as silly (a problem the novel suffers from as well), but scares more than not in large part because of the horrors they bring, as well as what they are capable of. The Ruins makes for a tense, enjoyable watch. Bring some sunscreen and herbicide, and get comfy atop that ancient Mayan ruin. Who knows, it just might end up getting under your skin.
3 STARS
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