Love is Blind, says my Kangmas!

Stars: Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore, Laura Ramsey, Joe Anderson
Director: Carter Smith
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 91 minutes


Amy and Stacy, two American college girls go on a vacation to Cancun, Mexico with their boyfriends, Jeff and Eric. While enjoying their hotel’s pool, the four struck a conversation with a couple of German tourists who invited them to visit a secret archeological dig at some off-the-map Mayan ruins in the thick jungle of Mexico. The German guy who invited the four American college tourists to come along is looking for his brother and girlfriend who have been missing for a day.

As the story unfolds the six college tourists from America and German are warned by the locals not to go to the secret ruins. Thus it is no surprise that as soon as they arrive one of them falls victim to the pretty blood-red flowers that crave human flesh for lunch covering the ruin. In the end only one girl survives the traumatic experience. More tourists still visit the off-the-beaten-path ruin to become parts of it, and we are led to believe that they will never leave.

Although the story plot of “The Ruins” is very simple, I found it more convincing compared to the usual monster movies commonly featured in the American horror genre. If you happen a blood-and-gore fan, you certainly will not be disappointed. As a matter of fact, director Carter Smith (no relation to the screenwriter, Scott B. Smith), seems to overplease the cinema crowds with grisly details.

Furthermore, it’s fair to say that “The Ruins” looks great with Australia’s Gold Coast standing in for Mexico. Plus the faux ancient Mayan temple built for the movie looks close in similarity when compared to the real structures.

Jonathan Tucker who plays Jeff shows us what great acting is all about; however, due to a narrow plot, there’s not much the other actors can do to display their strengths in “The Ruins”. Overall, “The Ruins” earns 3 stars from this movie buff. It’s worth it to see it on the big screen to get the full effects of the scary movie.