The Ruins (2008)

Regista:

Carter Smith

Writers (WGA):

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

Data di uscita:

4 aprile 2008 (USA)

Genere:

Horror | Thriller

Slogan:

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:

Female Nudity | Beach Resort | Cheating On Boyfriend | Pyramid | Guilt

Recensioni degli utenti:

Book Fans Will Be Pleased; Horror Fans will Be Thrilled

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)
resto del cast in ordine alfabetico:
Michelle Atkinson	...	Archeologist #1

Regia di
Carter Smith

Scritto da (WGA)
Scott B. Smith		(screenplay)
Scott B. Smith		(novel) (as Scott Smith)

Prodotto da
Chris Bender	....	producer
Stuart Cornfeld	....	producer
Trish Hofmann	....	executive producer
Jeremy Kramer	....	producer
Ben Stiller	....	producer

Musiche originali di
Graeme Revell

Fotografia di
Darius Khondji

Montaggio di
Jeff Betancourt

Responsabile casting
Denise Chamian

Scenografie di
Grant Major

Architetto-scenografo
Brian Edmonds		(supervising art director)
John Wingrove

Trucco
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

Direttore di produzione
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

Aiuto regista
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

Sonoro
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

Effetti speciali
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
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

Controfigure
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

Altro personale
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
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)

Effetti speciali

• 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)

Alias:

Rovine (Italy) [it]

MPAA:

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

Durata:

USA:91 min

Nazionalità:

Australia | USA

Lingua:

Inglese | Maya | Spagnolo

Colore:

Colore

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sonoro:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Divieti:

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

Luoghi delle riprese:

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Company:

BenderSpink

Errori:

Factual errors: While on top of the ruins, a bottle containing an amber colored liquid is shown several times. At one or two points the label is visible, saying "Blanco tequila." Blanco (white) tequila is completely colorless.

Citazioni:

[first lines]
Archeologist #2: Help me!

Movie Connections:

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

Book Fans Will Be Pleased; Horror Fans will Be Thrilled

For some reason I can't see that people who have not read the novel by Scott Smith will enjoy this adaptation as much as those who have not, but nonetheless all will find this horror thriller extremely satisfying, especially gore lovers.

Amy, Jeff, Stacy and Eric (Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker, Laura Ramsey, and Shawn Ashmore) are on vacation in Mexico, relaxing and drinking by the beach and poolside before they all go their separate ways to college. When they meet a German named Mathias who needs to visit a site of ancient ruins in the jungle to find his missing brother, the vacationers, although reluctant, decide to tag along and have some fun on their last day. Boy did they have the wrong idea.

Soon after they find the foreboding hidden path deep in the jungle, they stumble upon an abandoned archaeological dig amidst an ancient pyramid covered in vegetation. The local Mayans show up and after they shoot one of the other tagalongs and force the group up the trail, keeping guard around the pyramid, it becomes clear that the vacationers are being held hostage. Fear, hunger, and insanity begin to set in as over a three day period the group's mentalities begin to diminish. One by one, they fall prey to the evil vines that reside on the ancient ruins and it slowly becomes clear that they're probably not going to make it out of Mexico alive. Does this sound stupid? Sure. Killer vines, that's laughable. But during their stay you slowly begin to realize this isn't funny at all. It's hardcore chilling, and the vines are nothing to laugh at. They're used to a terrifying effect, especially in a chilling scene when Amy and Stacey descend into the pyramid and the vines try to kill them.

As far as quality, the acting is top notch, especially from Jena Malone and Laura Ramsey. Ramsey's Stacy suffers the worst physical harm and her performance is the best as she clearly goes insane when some nasty vines nestle in under her skin. All of the actors are exceptional and the audience will feel very attached. It's especially hard to watch when they start dying. These are real people in a horrifying situation. This isn't a mild horror film, it pulls no punches. It's straightforward, and although it is about killer flowers, it's as good as a horror movie can get, and the tension that director Carter Smith builds through the great pacing is unbearable. Kudos also goes to Jena Malone, who has broken free of her childhood performances and is getting into much more mature work. She is promising here.

I won't spoil the outcome of the character's fates but I will say for fans of the novel that the story is twisted around somewhat. Scott Smith adapted this from his book. The same events basically happen, but he's switched up his characters and the end starts to stray further and further from his novel. That's not to say that it doesn't work, for I think that it makes the experience better, you can go in expecting some new scares even if you've read the harrowing novel. I was supremely pleased at this take on the horrifying story and I was surprised to find myself shaken when it was over, particularly during the grueling scene when Stacy cuts into herself repeatedly with a hunting knife to pull out vines. This is one of the most unsettling scenes depicted in a horror film recently. You won't forget "The Ruins" and it's one of the best horror movies in a long time.