The Ruins (2008)

Director:

Carter Smith

Writers (WGA):

Scott B. Smith (screenplay)
Scott B. Smith (novel)

Release Date:

4 April 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Terror has evolved.

Plot:

A group of friends whose leisurely Mexican holiday takes a turn for the worse when they, along with a fellow tourist embark on a remote archaeological dig in the jungle, where something evil lives among the ruins. |

Plot Keywords:

Boyfriend Girlfriend Relationship | Cellular Phone | Blood | Self Mutilation | Tent

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Jonathan Tucker	...	Jeff McIntire
Jena Malone	...	Amy
Laura Ramsey	...	Stacy
Shawn Ashmore	...	Eric
Joe Anderson	...	Mathias
Sergio Calderón	...	Lead Mayan
Jesse Ramirez	...	Mayan Bowman
Balder Moreno	...	Mayan Horseman
Dimitri Baveas	...	Dimitri
Patricio Almeida Rodriguez	...	Taxi Driver
Mario Jurado	...	Mayan Archer
Luis Antonio Ramos	...	Mayan Rifleman #1 (as Luis Ramos)
Walter Quispe	...	Mayan Rifleman #2
Pauline Whyman	...	Wailing Woman
Nathan Vega	...	Mayan Boy
Tanisha Marquez-Munduate	...	Mayan Girl
Chris Argirousis	...	Greek #1
Alexander Gregory	...	Greek #2
Michelle Atkinson	...	Archeologist #1
Bar Paly	...	Archeologist #2
Jordan Patrick Smith	...	Heinrich
Jovina Riveros Padilla	...	Mayan Woman #1
Lucia Caballero	...	Mayan Woman #2
Rufino Hernandez	...	Mayan Guard #1
Carlos Enrique Delgado	...	Mayan Guard #2
Mario Freire Rivera	...	Mayan Guard #3
Elmer Alaya	...	Mayan Guard #4
Jesus Tugumbango	...	Mayan Guard #5
Robert Munns	...	Groundskeeper
Karen Strassman	...	Additional Vine Vocal (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michelle Atkinson	...	Archeologist #1

Directed by
Carter Smith

Writing credits (WGA)
Scott B. Smith		(screenplay)
Scott B. Smith		(novel) (as Scott Smith)

Produced by
Chris Bender	....	producer
Stuart Cornfeld	....	producer
Trish Hofmann	....	executive producer
Jeremy Kramer	....	producer
Ben Stiller	....	producer

Original Music by
Graeme Revell

Cinematography by
Darius Khondji

Film Editing by
Jeff Betancourt

Casting by
Denise Chamian

Production Design by
Grant Major

Art Direction by
Brian Edmonds		(supervising art director)
John Wingrove

Makeup Department
Paige Badenoch	....	makeup artist
René Dashiell Kerby	....	makeup artist: reshoots
Jake Garber	....	special makeup effects artist: additional photography
Christine Spiller	....	hair & makeup: additional unit
Shane Thomas	....	makeup designer
Debbie Zoller	....	makeup department head: re-shoots

Production Management
Troy Clarke	....	unit manager
Karen Ruth Getchell	....	production supervisor: additional photography
Sharon Miller	....	unit production manager
Jake Rice	....	post-production supervisor
Paul Springer	....	post-production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeff Betancourt	....	second unit director
Bish Bishop	....	second second assistant director
Jamie Crooks	....	first assistant director
Charles Mann	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Bob Booker	....	property master
Timothy Burgard	....	storyboard artist
Graeme Callander	....	storyboard artist
Laura Elkington	....	set dresser
Trevor Goring	....	storyboard artist
Benton Jew	....	illustrator
Leigh Mackie	....	conceptual illustrator
Peter 'Babylon' Owens	....	props

Sound Department
Kami Asgar	....	sound editor
Beau Borders	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul 'Salty' Brincat	....	sound mixer
Dorian Cheah	....	sound effects designer
Michael Dressel	....	foley editor
Scott G.G. Haller	....	dialogue editor
John Marquis	....	supervising sound editor
Herwig Maurer	....	sound effects editor
Sean McCormack	....	supervising sound editor
Eric Nagy	....	sound editor
Erin Oakley	....	adr supervisor
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stacey Parish	....	sound assistant
Eryne Prine	....	assistant sound editor
Jacob Riehle	....	first assistant sound editor
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
D. Chris Smith	....	sound effects editor
Tim Tuchrello	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Bruce Bright	....	special effects coordinator
David Fletcher	....	special effects supervisor
Dean Franklin	....	special effects technician
Allison Klein	....	studio coordinator: Tatopoulos Studios
Robert McKinnon	....	conceptual artist: Tatopoulos Studios
James Paul	....	special effects technician
Patrick Tatopoulos	....	creature designer
Rebecca Thiele	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Beverly Abbott	....	visual effects coordinator
Dan Bethell	....	research and development technical director: Rising Sun Pictures
Jessica Braun	....	lighting techical director
David C. Bryant	....	CGI supervisor: Pixel Playground
Darren Byford	....	lead lighting technical director
Ben Campbell	....	lighting technical director
Tim Christensen	....	digital compositor: Frantic Films
Laurence Dodd	....	lead previsualization artist
Karin Eunson-Ross	....	visual effects production manager: Frantic Films
Anouchka Farrenc	....	character animator: Rising Sun Pictures
Mitchell Ferm	....	visual effects producer
William Gammon	....	compositor: Rising Sun Picture
William Gammon	....	data wrangler: Rising Sun Picture
Kyle Goodsell	....	digital compositor (Rising Sun Pictures)
Sam Hancock	....	technical director
Katie Hecker	....	digital compositor
Keith Herft	....	sequence lead
Sam Hodge	....	lighting technical director: Rising Sun Pictures
Malcolm Humphreys	....	CG supervisor: Rising Sun Pictures
Marco Iozzi	....	lighting artist
Dennis Jones	....	digital compositor
Jiwoon Kim	....	digital compositor
Daniel Kmet	....	animator
Carsten Kolve	....	research & development: Rising Sun Pictures
Ivan La Rosa	....	effects rigging technical director: Rising Sun Pictures
Don Lee	....	visual effects supervisor: Pixel Playground
Kim Lee	....	visual effects producer: Pixel Playground
Tyler Lee	....	data wrangler
Jarrod Linton	....	digital effects artist
Ken McGaugh	....	visual effects supervisor: Rising Sun Pictures
Gregory L. McMurry	....	visual effects supervisor
Luke Millar	....	lead lighting technical director
Norah Mulroney	....	digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Ben Myers	....	digital compositor
Donal Nolan	....	digital compositor
Rob Nunn	....	lead previsualization artist
Premamurti Paetsch	....	visual effects artist
Nick Pitt-Owen	....	visual effects artist
Jonathan Reynolds	....	digital artist
Kurtis Richmond	....	lead matte artist: FUEL International
Mark Robben	....	digital compositor: Pixel Playground
Ben Roberts	....	digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Johannes Saam	....	research and development technical director: Rising Sun Pictures
Randal Shore	....	visual effects producer: Frantic Films
Bobby Silman	....	digital compositor: Frantic Films
Christoph Sprenger	....	research and development: Rising Sun Pictures
Max Stummer	....	digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Mark Tremble	....	digital compositor
Les Turner	....	animator
Ben Warner	....	digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Jeremy West	....	camera tracker
James Whitlam	....	visual effects executive producer: Rising Sun Pictures
Gavin Wright	....	previsualization artist: Proof

Stunts
Lee Adamson	....	stunt performer
Lee Adamson	....	stunt rigger
Haydn Dalton	....	stunt assistant
Mitch Deans	....	stunt coordinator
Thomas Dewier	....	utility stunts
Steve Harman	....	stunt rigger

Camera and Electrical Department
Simon Christidis	....	underwater cinematographer
David Elmes	....	first assistant camera
Mark Goellnicht	....	steadicam operator
Mark Jefferies	....	best boy
Cameron Murchison	....	second assistant camera
David Nichols	....	key grip
Bruce Olinder	....	chief lighting technician: second unit
Henry Richards	....	lighting technician
Vince Valituti	....	still photographer
Matthew Weston	....	camera loader
Jörg Widmer	....	camera operator
David Williamson	....	camera operator
Matt Windon	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera

Casting Department
Angela Demo	....	casting associate
Ben Parkinson	....	casting: Australia
Ben Parkinson	....	extras casting: Australia

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Adam Dalli	....	extras costumes
Alecia De Marco	....	costume buyer
Kerry Thompson	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
John Peter Bernardo	....	associate editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Beth Dewey	....	digital intermediate producer
Todd Fulkerson	....	first assistant editor
Leilani Gushiken	....	post-production coordinator
Mandy Jacobs	....	first assistant editor
Curtis Lindersmith	....	digital intermediate editor
Yvan Lucas	....	colorist: Efilm
David Matusek	....	second assistant editor
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Robert E. Phillips	....	digital intermediate assistant producer: EFILM
Larry Engelmann	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
Mark Curry	....	score mixer
David E. Russo	....	music programmer
Joshua Winget	....	music editor
Gina Zimmitti	....	orchestra contractor

Other crew
Angelique Badenoch	....	assistant production coordinator
Adam Bagger	....	assistant: Mr. Smith
Sean F. Barth	....	product placement
Lara Breay	....	development executive
Suzie Bruce	....	production accountant
Anthea Charalambous	....	assistant to producer
Lisa Fiorito	....	researcher
Rachael Lin Gallaghan	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Karen Garlich	....	payroll accountant: re-shoots
Judy Hallin	....	production coordinator
Kelly Head	....	petty cash accountant
Brock LaBorde	....	assistant to producer
Jacinta Leong	....	modeller: 3D CAD modelling
Antoinette O'Neill	....	script supervisor
Russell Steele	....	financial controller: USA
Shelly Strong	....	production executive
Ryan Verbruggen	....	assistant: Mr Khondji
Michael Wolstenholme	....	accounting assistant

Production Companies

• BenderSpink
• DreamWorks SKG
• Red Hour Films
• Spyglass Entertainment

Distributors

• DreamWorks SKG (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Myndform (2008) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• Forum Entertainment (2008) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2008) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures International
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Frantic Films
• Patrick Tatopoulos Design
• Proof (pre-visualization)
• Rising Sun Pictures (visual effects)

Other Companies

• 424 Post  sound post-production
• Absolute Rentals  post-production rentals
• Act One Script Clearance  script research services
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Executive Assurance  security
• Runway  post-production
• Synxspeed  post-production facilities (foreign dub)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and gruesome images, language, some sexuality and nudity.

Runtime:

USA:91 min

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English | Maya | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Sweden:15 | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Netherlands:16 | South Africa:16LV | Finland:K-13 | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:14A (Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:18 | Ireland:16 | USA:R (certificate #44170) | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Company:

BenderSpink

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: On top of the ruins there is an opening with a rope in which people can lower others by turning a wheel. When one of the characters is going down into the ruins, the camera changes quickly between the person going down into the ruins and the characters lowering the rope. Even though they are lowering a person into the ruins, they are actually twisting the wheel the wrong way, which shows the rope moving up, as if they are taking someone out of the ruins.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Archeologist #2: Help me!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Ashton Kutcher/Gnarls Barkley (#33.10)" (2008)

Italian giallo in American mainstream clothing

The Ruins takes place in Mexico with four college-age kids (Tucker, Malone, Ashmore and Ramsy) and another guy (Anderson), the latter who takes them to a Mayan temple where his brother is working supposedly on a dig. When they get there, a bunch of angry Mexican-Myans attack them, they scurry up to the top of the temple, and are basically quarantined with a host of virulent, monster-type plants and vines, who in typical horror fashion kill them off one by one. That's the basic premise, anyway, and if you know that and have seen the trailer you probably took a guess whether this is up your alley. For me, I was as intrigued by the trailer as I was who I found out wrote the screenplay, and subsequently the book of the movie's title- Scott Smith, who also wrote the morality drama A Simple Plan. What would these two works have in common at all, or to put it another way how would the same guy who wrote one wrote the other?

Maybe it comes down to how I interpreted it through the direction (Simple Plan had Sam Raimi, and made it one of his best films, this one has Carter Smith, someone I've never heard of before as it's his feature debut). But, basically, both works, and this one in particular, are about seemingly smart and resourceful people acting really stupid in crunch-time. The college kids here are more or less cut-outs as characters, with some making stupider decisions than others (i.e. Malone's character basically killing off some characters thanks to her incessant lack of logic). Normally this would be just a given, but it's interesting to see that the actors don't do a half-assed job playing them- especially, surprisingly, Real Cancun star Laura Ramsey, who acts just high-pitched enough to get her plight as she's infected by the vines- and the ambiguity involving the vines and the tunnel and the Mexican-Mayans at the bottom guarding the outer rim is pretty well done.

It's a shame then that the horror comes best only in short spurts, mostly as Malone and Ramsey are in the dark recesses looking for a cell phone that isn't really there, and some visceral horror involving a character's leg amputations. Mostly, it veers a little one way or the other with these vines: they hearken back to Little Shop of Horrors and even the first Evil Dead movie, but it's not very goofy. At the same time, the screenplay doesn't evolve these characters too much past their point of no return. In the initial scenes, then the build-up, I was reminded of some Italian horror films (can't think of one right now but it'll come to me sooner or later), only here of course not dubbed over. It is fairly creepy, and it does provide stock characters, and it gives you that double-whammy of an ending that is half happy and half "oh darn, there go some more". It is what it is, and it isn't much more, depending on the fan of the genre. It probably works best with a bunch of friends who may or may not like it as a legitimate horror flick. 6.5/10