The Ruins (2008) Reviews
Critic & User Reviews
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Critic Reviews
In order to appreciate The Ruins, one has to be a die-hard fan of horror or bloody thrillers. Those in that category will discover that The Ruins delivers the goods.
Read the full reviewDirector Carter Smith suffers from another, more common problem: In trying to squeeze every plot point from the book into a 90-minute movie, he failed to capture its chilling essence.
Read the full reviewIn the end, the gimmick is too risible and its effects on the characters too forced to sustain either suspense or horror.
Read the full reviewThe characters never evolve past mere functionality, and the adherence to certain tried-and-true horror tropes -- the good girl who doesn't want to go but does, the generic naughty kids who get it first -- feels workmanlike, robbing the story of any real suspense or surprise.
Read the full reviewThe Ruins is lumpish, static, and obvious. It's a gringos-go-home cautionary fright flick done in the spirit of a cheap '50s horror movie, except that it leaves you longing for the competence of grade-Z studio-system trash.
Read the full reviewMore disgusting than scary, The Ruins is the latest in a long line of horror films about upper-middle-class travelers being terrorized in unfamiliar environments.
Read the full reviewUltimately less dependent on suspense or even scares than on squirm-inducing grossouts, this tale of Yank hardbodies vs. carnivorous creepers should flower briefly in hardtops, then spread like an invasive weed in ancillary.
Read the full reviewReview excerpts provided by Metacritic.com.
The Metascore® designation for this movie is 44
User Reviews
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Another crappy movie!
"How many movies can hollywood produce?Im sick of going to a movie hoping for a quality storyline to leave AGAIN being disappointed.This movie started out good and when I figured out what the story was about I wanted to leave.I stayed and watched this movie until the bitter end.Not a good story,stupid actually!Vines that can make noises and eat people.Yes,people man eating plants!Save your money on this stinker."
Another Turkey made to steal your $$$$$'s
"No better than a Twilight Zone episode. Really."
Fairly good movie.
"I thought it was a fairly good movie, my wife read the book, didn't like it, but we went anyway. Actually, it was pretty scary, or gross, or both. It was definitely worth the money."
READ AMERICA, READ
"I actually had the pleasure of finishing the book the night before seeing the movie, Everything they could possibly change, they changed. I personally believe to save money on a big money action horror movie. A phenomanal read, great book, really good suspenseful story, and then the movie screwed it up. AND ROYALY AT THAT! MAKING UP CHARACTERS, AND NEW STORY LINES. REARRANGING PLOTS AND CHARACTERS TO DIE DIFFERENTLY THAN THE BOOK. POETIC LICENSE IS ONE THING, MAKING THIS FROM BOOK TO MOVIE IS THE REAL H O R R O R !!"
It was worth my money...
"I'm an avid book reader and would have read the book first had I known that it WAS a book. Anyway, I saw the matinee, and it was worth my money. I definitely don't think that it was a waste of my time. I did enjoy the movie, but did not get some of the answers that I wanted. Someone posted a spoiler, so it makes sense now. I also would have like to know the history behind The Ruins and WHY what was happening was happening. Other than that, it was cool. Worth seeing."
Don't waste your time
"Absolutely terrible.....don't waste your time!"
Answers (spoilers)
"The two guys in the end were the 2 greeks. The other greek left them the map in the begining while they were past out and everyone was debating wether or not they would actually come and they did. I'm assuming the girl in the beginning was the girl Henrich (Mathias' brother) oringinaly met and went to the ruins with. You should definitly read the book if you liked the movie. The characters are actually alittle different and each of their fates is different then that of the movie."
Good movie with crappy ending (spolier alert)
"the movie freaked me out, and im not scared often in movies. i am now anxious to read the book. i felt like i was really there with the characters and the plot was very interesting and very gory/scary. i had to turn away at many points. the ending, however, made the movie not as good as i had hoped. we see Amy get out with the jeep and reach the road, so dose that mean she really escaped? They should have shown what happened to her once she escaped...Who were those two guys at the end? And who was the girl in the very beginning .. i thought it was Amy but apaprently not cuz Amy escapes? if anyone could explain these i'd appreciate it. But overall, movie kept my interest the entire time .. i'd reccommed it. I am going to buy the book tomorrow and read it..and i wouldn't mind seeing the movie again too. Don't pay attention to these people with no high school education who say its a bad movie, take it from someone with a COLLEGE DEGREE; it's not all that bad and NOT a waste of money."
I thought it was pretty good!
"This movie was not as good as i expected, BUT it was still worth the money i paid for it. Everyone these days have high expectations and complain because there was one thing missing in their entertainment factor; if u understand what im sayin. ANYWAYS the movie was entertaining, interesting ABILITY the things had, and good story line.I do not understand HOW the decent could have had anything to do with the ruins other than friends go to something thats supposed to be a tourist spot. TRUST ME I've seen the decent a billion times (my favorite horror film of all time) and it has NOTHING to do with this movie)people these days just do not know how to enjoy what they are watching with an open mind before watching it instead of hoping/expecting whats gonna happen. This seems to happen a lot. W/e So yeah, i think you should see it if you enjoy a pychological/gore horror. but i will advise, there is not a monster, so dont think there is something controlling them; you'll know what i mean after u see it. and NO them does not stand for the characters"
Wait for the DVD to come out.
"I was really disapointed in this movie. After the first part of the movie where there was a little T"
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