“So what do you guys think: Ancient Mayan temple off the beaten path?” - Jeff

Conventional wisdom says the beaten path exists for a reason: it’s safe. But conventional wisdom isn’t much of a match for a group of young travelers who wish to avoid “tourist traps” while on vacation. And so, with little reservation, best friends Amy (Jena Malone) and Stacy (Laura Ramsey) head off to an ancient Mayan temple at the urging of their boyfriends, Jeff (Jonathan Tucker) and Eric (Shawn Ashmore).

The group has been intrigued by a foreigner named Mathias whose brother, Henrich, has gone to the temple with his archaeologist girlfriend. Neither has returned, but Mathias quips that it’s probably because they’re having so much “fun”. At an old Mayan Temple. In the middle of nowhere.

Queue scary music here.

Amy gets cold feet when the group comes to an apparent dead end, only to find that the trail has been concealed with bushes. A couple of silent, young children show up several yards away in a creek bed to manufacture tension because apparently young children are scary. Amy’s intuition is to turn around and go back to the cushy confines of the hotel and pool. Why her boyfriend Jeff prefers visit dusty old ruins instead of jumping her bones at the hotel is a mystery.

No sooner does the group arrive at the foot of the ruins than some gruff looking “natives” arrive, complete with horses, guns, bows and arrows. They seem very threatening from the word “go.” A language barrier prevents either side from being able to explain themselves, and soon thereafter things turn bad. Pretty soon the tourists find themselves atop the ruins, unable to leave thanks to the folks with bows and guns.

To reveal what happens next would spoil the surprise of “The Ruins.” It is sufficient to say that it is probably what you did not see coming. In a way, “The Ruins” can thank recent horror films like “The Descent” and “28 Days Later” for priming its audience. Viewers will likely enter “The Ruins” thinking they have an idea of what to expect. They will be wrong.

Like “The Descent”, “The Ruins” doesn’t play any dirty tricks with its audience. It stays faithful to the rules it establishes early on. But unlike “The Descent”, the film only works because of a bit of manufactured drama, namely, the “natives”, who serve to keep the tourists trapped in their predicament. The film justifies this mechanism logically, but even so it still feels forced and mechanical, and detracts from the overall quality of the movie.

Still, “The Ruins” works. It achieves what it sets out to achieve and does so with a fairly creative horror device. It’s not as good as “The Descent” or “28 Days Later”, but it deserves a seat at the table.

“So what do you guys think: Ancient Mayan temple off the beaten path?” - Jeff

Conventional wisdom says the beaten path exists for a reason: it’s safe. But conventional wisdom isn’t much of a match for a group of young travelers who wish to avoid “tourist traps” while on vacation. And so, with little reservation, best friends Amy (Jena Malone) and Stacy (Laura Ramsey) head off to an ancient Mayan temple at the urging of their boyfriends, Jeff (Jonathan Tucker) and Eric (Shawn Ashmore).

The group has been intrigued by a foreigner named Mathias whose brother, Henrich, has gone to the temple with his archaeologist girlfriend. Neither has returned, but Mathias quips that it’s probably because they’re having so much “fun”. At an old Mayan Temple. In the middle of nowhere.

Queue scary music here.

Amy gets cold feet when the group comes to an apparent dead end, only to find that the trail has been concealed with bushes. A couple of silent, young children show up several yards away in a creek bed to manufacture tension because apparently young children are scary. Amy’s intuition is to turn around and go back to the cushy confines of the hotel and pool. Why her boyfriend Jeff prefers visit dusty old ruins instead of jumping her bones at the hotel is a mystery.

No sooner does the group arrive at the foot of the ruins than some gruff looking “natives” arrive, complete with horses, guns, bows and arrows. They seem very threatening from the word “go.” A language barrier prevents either side from being able to explain themselves, and soon thereafter things turn bad. Pretty soon the tourists find themselves atop the ruins, unable to leave thanks to the folks with bows and guns.

To reveal what happens next would spoil the surprise of “The Ruins.” It is sufficient to say that it is probably what you did not see coming. In a way, “The Ruins” can thank recent horror films like “The Descent” and “28 Days Later” for priming its audience. Viewers will likely enter “The Ruins” thinking they have an idea of what to expect. They will be wrong.

Like “The Descent”, “The Ruins” doesn’t play any dirty tricks with its audience. It stays faithful to the rules it establishes early on. But unlike “The Descent”, the film only works because of a bit of manufactured drama, namely, the “natives”, who serve to keep the tourists trapped in their predicament. The film justifies this mechanism logically, but even so it still feels forced and mechanical, and detracts from the overall quality of the movie.

Still, “The Ruins” works. It achieves what it sets out to achieve and does so with a fairly creative horror device. It’s not as good as “The Descent” or “28 Days Later”, but it deserves a seat at the table.