THE RUINS

Starring:
Shawn Ashmore, Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Laura Ramsey, Joe Anderson and Sergio Calderón

Director:
Carter Smith

Running Time:
91 mins

Out to buy on DVD 13/10/08

"Just cut it out..."

Nearing the end of their Mexican vacation, Jeff (Tucker), Amy (Malone), Stacy (Ramsey) and Eric (Ashmore) are looking for one last thing to do and when Mathias (Anderson) offers them a trip into the jungle to visit his brother's archaeological dig at a newly discovered Mayan pyramid. When the group arrive and start to climb the stone stairs to the top of the temple, local Mayan villagers surround the pyramid armed with weapons, threatening to kill anyone who tries to leave. It isn't locals that Jeff, Amy, Stacey, Eric and Mathias should be scared of however, as there is something in the heart of the temple that is much deadlier.

Hollywood's latest entries into the horror genre have been a little uninventive of late but can 'The Ruins' inject some originality?

For horror fans Hollywood is becoming a barren place for new frights and scares. Everything coming out of Tinsel Town of late is either a remake of a classic or foreign language hit or a sequel to a continuing franchise. There are filmmakers who are trying to reinvigorate the genre and director Carter Smith and his creative team try their best with a very different kind of threat but unfortunately they fall into the usual Hollywood horror clichés.

Based on the novel by Scott B. Smith, the premise for 'The Ruins' certainly pulls you in with a small amount originality but it is the use of young people again as the victims panders to the usual Hollywood way. Why it is always young people who fall victim to the latest Hollywood killer and while studio executives say it is to connect with a younger audience, for horror fans constantly seeing attractive young people face a bloody and painful death is becoming a little stale. Were it does inject some originality is in the killer.

The premise revolves around an ancient Mayan temple in the middle of the Mexican jungle, one that the local people believe is cursed by an ancient evil, one that if allowed to escape, could spread even further into the jungle. The good news it that this isn't another plague movie but it is one that goes after the young people without any remorse. The young cast of Shawn Ashmore, Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Laura Ramsey and Joe Anderson are a set of decent victims and because there are no real huge stars among them, each of them has as much change of surviving or being killed. Of all of them, it is Jena Malone who continues to impress, not portraying her role of Amy as the usual female victim seen in horror movies.

'The Ruins' tries to inject some originality into the Hollywood horror genre but unfortunately it misses more than it hits. While the premise itself is original enough but the cliched used of young people as the victims again, means this falls into the typical Hollywood horror bracket that Tinsel Town seems to find it impossible to escape from.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good.

BONUS FEATURES

Commentary by director Carter Smith and editor Jeff Betancourt
The director and editor provide a chatty and informative commentary track for the 'Ruins'. The pair talk passionately about bringing the book to the silver screen, casting and the look and feel of the movie, highlighting what is different between this and usual teen horror flicks. Fans should give this commentary a listen.

Making the Ruins (14.23 mins)
Director Carter Smith, executive producers Ben Stiller and Trish Hofman, producers Stuart Cornfeld and Chris Bender and stars Jonathan Tucker, Joe Anderson, Jena Malone, Laura Ramsey and Shawn Ashmore take you behind the scenes of the making of 'The Ruins'. The featurette covers the transformation of the characters, the first time director, re-invigorating the horror genre and the book vs. the script.

Creeping Death (15.04 mins)
Director Carter Smith, production designer Grant Major, producer Stuart Cornfeld and star Shawn Ashmore talk about creating a killer vine and making it believeable.

Building the Ruins (6.08 mins)
Director Carter Smith, production designer Grant Major, producers Ben Stiller and Chris Bender talk about constructing the sets for 'The Ruins'.

Deleted Scenes (9.38 mins)
Entitled 'Rain', 'Celebration', 'Going over the escape plan' and 'Alternative ending', these deleted or alternative scenes

Theatrical Trailer (1.08 mins)
Watch the preview of the film that showcased the film in cinemas and on the Internet.

Trailer
Preview of 'Eagle Eye'

OVERALL

The DVD treatment for 'The Ruins' is one that fans of the film should enjoy. The featurettes cover most aspects of the film's production and the commentary track is well worth a listen. This is a good example of how to produce a DVD.

DVD


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