Capitalizing on four stellar performances, a traumatizing experience and one of the most intense stories to grace the horror genre, The Ruins is a gripping ride through hell that will have you on the edge of your seat in anticipation.
When best friends Amy and Stacy bring along their boyfriends to the exotic beaches of Mexico, neither knew that their trip home would be delayed...permanently. As the group's vacation comes to an end, they decide to journey into a tropical jungle in hopes of catching a glimpse of an ancient Mayan ruin. But when they arrive at the mesmerizing site, an unexpected event forces the frightened Americans to the top of the rocky structure, where they are forced to confront hidden horrors and engage in a battle for their existence.
When it comes to horror films, most disappoint in both story and acting; however, somehow The Ruins escaped the curse and was actually both exciting and terrifying. Taking place mainly in the daytime, the film was able to use its story and create terror and hysteria without the use of rain or dark. Instead, the film relies on the viewer's imagination and perception of alarm, gnawing at the inner fear of being stranded without a sign of grace from anyone.
In addition there is an unbelievable cast led by the always interesting Jenna Malone. Playing Amy, Malone works her character to perfection, bringing out her inner intelligence while keeping her innocence and lack of confidence front and center. Her portrayal couldn't have been more dead-on, adding another great performance to her already extensive resume.
Alongside Malone we have Jonathan Tucker who brings a potent force to both the story and the screen. Tucker, known most for his work in In the Valley of Elah, plays Jeff, the intelligent medical school student and boyfriend to Amy. Mature for his time, Jeff is fascinated with the architecture and history of the mysterious ruins and plays a vital role in convincing the gang to partake on their daring adventure. And though he shows off some talent when his relationship with Amy gets tested within the film, it is his ability of bringing a confident and intelligent man who can't seem to come up with any answers that really makes his performance so strong.
Then we have Shawn Ashmore and Laura Ramsey. Though neither has much of a resume, I must admit that both outperformed my expectations, playing alongside their co-stars and adding to the films overall appeal. Playing another couple on the 'vacation,' Ashmore and Ramsey play within themselves and help to bring a frightening scenario to the thoughts and minds of the viewers. Their chemistry was perfect and their emotional take on a couple in distress is amazingly precise. In short, they were called upon and ultimately delivered.
However, none of the stars performances would have mattered if the story hadn't been so terrifying and malicious. Taking a seemingly innocent stream of events and turning them into an awaited bloodbath is never easy; yet somehow, director Carter B. Smith was able to do just that...flawlessly. His camera use helped fear rise from within the stone ruin and his climatic scene structure helped bring confusion and uncertainty to the forefront. And most impressively, Carter was able to create a horrifying tale without the use of the typical scare tactics: thunderstorms and darkness. Instead, Carter uses the story for all that it is; scaring the shit out of audience members in the process.
The Ruins is good...actually it is great. Capitalizing on the fears and anxieties that live within each and every one of us, the film uses your imagination against you, forcing you to face the facts and find a way out. In simple terms, the film is daunting. Yet somehow, from deep within, I still found it a pleasure to watch!
