Two years ago I was sent Scott Smith’s novel The Ruins to review, I also ran a giveaway on the site and gave away a few copies to readers from the site. I loved the book and praised the hell out of it. (Review Here). When I heard that the best selling novel was going to be made into a feature film I was very excited. Most horror fans who didn’t read the book automatically dismissed it as being just another teen horror film, because of the synopsis that hit the internet. I defended it on a few message boards because unlike the normal horror fan, I actually prefer to read horror over seeing a film. It is not just your run of the mill average teen horror film, it does have an original story. However, after reading the book and falling in love with it, I have a lot to complain about when it comes to the movie.
The Ruins is about two young couples who are on vacation in Mexico. Their trip is about to come to an end, so they want to do something special the last day there. They meet a gut named Matheis whom tells them that his brother is off on an archeological dig with a girl he meet. He explains that they are at a dig on a site of an old Mayan ruin. They all agree to go with Matheis to find his brother and explore the ruins. When they get there however they are greeted by a bunch of unfriendly Mayan villagers who try to prevent them from reaching the ruins however it’s too late and the group of five is forced to stay on top of the old Mayan temple. Confused as to why the locals are keeping them on top of the temple at gun point. They soon realize that the temple is alive and a killer vine is plotting a way to kill them off one by one.
The script was written by Scott Smith who also wrote the book. Why I have my complaints about the movie script, I’m almost certain Scott Smith is not to blame for the changes that were made, as to me it looks like the script was changed according to the studios needs to make this film come in at ninety minutes. The thing is, I’m a sucker for detail, and I think the script could of been better if the film was a half hour longer. The characters in the book are developed really well, and in the movie they are somewhat developed but not to the point where we really need them to be. Key factors that were part of the book were cut out of the screenplay in what I’m guessing was to help speed up the pace of the film. However, I felt that these key points that were made in the book really needed to be in the script. I read the book, so I knew what was going on, but the audience I saw this film obviously didn’t so they had no clue and I heard a lot of people saying “What” or I don’t it” in confusion. So why I felt the script had it flaws, it was still decent. I just wish it was more detailed.
The acting was really good in the film, I’m not going to take anything away from the cast. I also felt that the film was perfectly cast in relation to the characters in the book. The best thing I felt however was perfect in relation to the book was the vines themselves. The CGI looked pretty good and the vines were just as detailed as they are explained in the book, right down the flowers and the overall personality of the vines. The film also has great production value, from it visual effects, to it’s make up effects, costume design and sound, the production value were perfect in comparison to the novel.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.
Here’s the thing folks, and if you read the book you’ll understand where I’m coming from with my complaints about the film. If you didn’t read the book, then skip this part, because you’ll have no clue what I’m talking about, and will probably end up making yourself look like an ass when you e-mail me with your bitching.
The film takes a few things from the book and twists them around a lot. Most of this is done with the fate of the characters. In the book six people make there way up the ruins, why in the movie that sixth person is killed before he even makes up there. The person killer is Pablo whom is you remember from the book is actually the one who falls down the well and breaks his back. In the film Matheis is the one who falls down the well, where in the book he is killed by Eric. Amy is killed by the plant in the book as it gets in her mouth and suffocates her, in the movie her fate is different, as well as Stacy’s, Eric, and Jeff. The movie twists their fate around a lot, and to me it took away from the overall suspense that book thrived on. In the book the vines are a lot more dangerous and sinister than in the film. The ending also very, very different, where in the book there is a very unhappy ending, the movie gives us some hope. Yet the very end of the movie ends the same way the very end of the book does. Honestly folks, this will probably become an issue among fans of the book and I can go on forever. I just wish that the Greek characters were explained more in the film, and at least had a bit of development in the beginning like they did in the book. People in the theater didn’t get the very ending of the film at all, and I feel if the Greek characters were fleshed out in the beginning it would of made more sense to someone seeing the film that did not read the book. Like I said there is so much more that I can get into detail with the film to book comparison and my opinions on why the book is better, but I don’t want to overkill my review of the movie.
Overall, I wish this film was a bit longer and explained more details that were presented in the book, to me it would made the film make better sense to the people that never read the book, and would of given the people who did more to chew on. I can’t blame the horror fans who loved this film because of the gore and good scares it pulls off, but at the same time I can’t blame the people that disliked it as well. I enjoyed the film up until the ending and thought it was fun to watch, my problem lies in the details and the fact that I’m more of a faithful fan of the book and wish the film did not change anything for the sake of pacing and timing, and gave us the scares and suspense that the book did.
The DVD includes a never before seen alternate ending as well as the ending used during the films theatrical run. Three deleted scenes, behind the scenes featurettes, Commentary by Director Carter Smith and Editor Jeff Betancourt and more… Personally when it comes to the alternate endings, I liked the one they originally used. Although the films ending is different from the book when it comes to our main characters fate, the last shot in the movie is actually the very ending of the book. So for fans of the book, you might say they used the right ending when the film was in theaters compared to one on the DVD and the alternate ending. Overall although I was more a fan of the book this DVD is packed with a lot of features.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
