As the internet collective undergoes a deeper respect of the horror genre, the discarded horror films of the 2000s have been revisited with greater appreciation. The Ruins has not been a large part of that discussion, whether it be because it was not as brutally dissected as its contemporaries or because it really stands head-and-shoulders above them. This is not to say these other films were bad, but The Ruins is so meticulously crafted and directed that it stands out even among current-day releases. Based on the 2006 novel of the same name, and perhaps the best novel I have ever read, The Ruins had a lot to live up to in its film adaptation. For the most part, the film embodied the slow-burn horror of the novel, as the unfortunate characters uncover the mysterious entities which ultimately determine a grim fate.
Amy and Stacy are best friends, vacationing with their boyfriends, Jeff and Eric, at a coastal Mexican resort. The college students approach their last days having never left the resort. Mathias, a German tourist, strikes up conversation with them, revealing his brother met an archeologist and accompanied her to a dig at a little known Mayan ruin. He was left a map and the group decides to accompany him to the site on their last day. Accompanied by a Greek tourist, they all board a bus south. Once at the final stop, they hire a truck driver to follow the map to the archeological ruins. However, with one look the driver warns them these ruins are no good. Jeff offers the driver cash and they proceed into a dense jungle. Left on foot for the final leg, and despite covered paths and lurking observers, the group manages to find the ruins: a modest pyramid covered in vines. At the top a tent is visible and Mathias believes his brother to be with the archeologists. However, when locals surround the sextet, barking orders in a native language, the confusion and terror causes the group to back onto the vines. Forcefully, they are threatened into the empty ruins, surrounded, and left to uncover a presence actively plotting amongst them.
The Ruins fuses the mystery, thriller, and body horror genres seamlessly into a tight 90-minute runtime. The source of horror in the film, an intelligent breed of vines which manipulate and feast on humans, is so bizarre and "out there" that translating this concept on any level into the film medium would be an accomplishment. Yet, the film exceeds these expectations, flourishing under a believable script, sharp editing, crisp camera work, a fitting score, and some great genre performances. Particularly, Laura Ramsey is brilliant as Stacy, undergoing a grueling mental and physical breakdown. A lot of times, critics implore why A-list actresses do not get enough credit (or awards) when they go genre. However, with an actress like Ramsey I wonder why we don't extend this same plea for accolades to actors who spend much of their career in the horror genre. In a just world Ramsey would have swept Best Supporting Actress accolades and to this day delivered one of my favorite horror performances.
While The Ruins settles on a slightly lighter end than the novel (a studio requirement to not torture its audiences) which is a bit of an injustice to the horror, the villains, and the story itself, so much of the unconventional plot was nailed. As such, it really is difficult to pick at the film adaptation (pun intended), which remains one of the greatest horror films of the 2000s and an underrated gem in the genre.
Rating: 9/10