THE RUINS starts out like your standard crappy young people horror movie. Then when the group of friends take a trip to a Mayan temple (not on the map) with a Geran, Dimitri (Joe Anderson), the films starts to get really interesting and slowly becomes very creepy. It is one of the best horror movie of 2008 alongside THE STRANGERS. Violence comes from the vines, the people surrounding the temple, and the people trapped on the Mayan temple. What is amazing is that the film is set in Mexico and yet was filmed in Australia. The unrated ending is slightly different from the theatrical ending, but I am still a little mixed on the little effect they added to make it creepier. I look forward to the next film from first time feature film director Carter Smith.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
the feature audio commentary is with Director Carter Smith and Editor Jeff Betancourt. It is an easy commentary to listen to as they talk about the various aspects of teh production including the author being very open to changing things for the script and filming in Australia. They also provide optional commentary for the three fascinating deleted scenes that slow down the momentum of the movie and an alternate ending. they don't provide commentary for the original theatrical ending.

The original theatrical trailer, previews for STOP-LOSS and TROPIC THUNDER and IRON MAN, and three behind-the-scenes featurettes round out the extras.
MAKING THE RUINS- How a first time director came to direct THE RUINS (a film produced by Ben Stiller's production company), differences between the script and book (both written by author Scott Smith), and filming in Australia.
BUILDING THE RUINS- production design of the various extorior and interior sets. The sets of the temple weren't all in one place. The top and bottom parts were belnded together with special effects.
CREEPING DEATH- creating the vines and prosthetic effects

FINAL ANALYSIS: THE RUINS is a very creepy film that shows man is his own enemy and so are the things that wait at the temple. Watch it if you want a genuine creepy flick.

this DVD review is (c)7-5-2008 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com  

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