for a horror movie, "The Ruins" is more of the gross-out variety than the bone-chilling, "what's-around-the-corner" type. there are definitely some disgusting moments in the movie, the kind that you'd want to fast-forward through if you could. does that make the movie scary? not really. the "monster" in the movie is killer vines. not really scary. the movie seems more like a short story. there's really only one significant set--a flat-top pyramid--and not that much action or intrigue. the vines are pretty one-dimensional, and remain unexplained. they are actually not that threatening when the characters keep their distance. the movie takes place in broad daylight, so the atmosphere doesn't add anything to the scare level.
so I was slightly disappointed. if you expect to be truly scared, you'll probably be disappointed as well.
all in all, the movie is put together well, it just doesn't have much in the way of story or mood. it's surprising to me that it's adapted from a full-length novel. they must have left a lot of stuff out.
so I was slightly disappointed. if you expect to be truly scared, you'll probably be disappointed as well.
all in all, the movie is put together well, it just doesn't have much in the way of story or mood. it's surprising to me that it's adapted from a full-length novel. they must have left a lot of stuff out.