The Ruins

The Ruins (2008)

  • 48% of critics liked it
    (88 reviews)

  • 32% of users liked it
    (512,577 ratings)

Based on the novel by A Simple Plan author Scott Smith, director Carter B. Smith's Yucatan-set thriller follows four American tourists as they unwisely venture off the beaten path while vacationing in Cancun. When a friendly German tourist implores the Americans to help search the jungle for his… More

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R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By
Carter Smith
Written By
Scott B. Smith
Genres
Mystery & Suspense, Horror
In Theaters
Apr 4, 2008 Wide
On DVD
Jul 8, 2008
DreamWorks/Paramount Studios

Critic Reviews

  • Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail

    A more than satisfactory scare fest.

  • Philip Marchand, Toronto Star

    Moral of the story: never visit an out-of-the-way Mexican ruin covered by vines and blood-red flowers that make a squeaking sound.

  • James Berardinelli, ReelViews

    The Ruins does what a good psychological horror movie should do: rely on tension rather than gore to achieve its aims.

  • Gene Seymour, Newsday

    The usual gore-and-gristle fare, but this one serves it up with a tad more suggestiveness and smarts.

  • Matt Zoller Seitz, New York Times

    More 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 all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • John M


    This was better than i expected. Decent ride. Some gorey parts on the unrated version may be a bit too much for some.

  • moon r


    A tropical Mexican vacation goes horribly wrong ... okay, maybe not exactly horror-bly, as tourists visit an isolated spot only to be hunted by ... a killer plant. You can wait for it, though some moments of tension are achieved.

  • Carlos M


    A tense horror film that is well-paced and relies on a good cast, turning a rather silly premise into something surprisingly terrifying. It is only a shame that it ends on such an unsatisfying conclusion (I prefer the alternative ending).

  • Matt G


    Scary film with gross out moments.

  • Anthony L


    I thought the Ruins was pretty good to be honest. The actors ain't great but in their defence a couple of them stepped up to the challenge when the films conclusion got going. I think it's casting is probably the only problem I had with it though - The idea itself is both… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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