The Ruins on Netflix

I think that this type of film only appeals to a very limited audience because of the rather obvious lack of budget. However, I have seen hundreds of films with limited funds and as those types of films go, this one is slightly better than most for a number of reasons.

For one thing, they didn’t get too ambitious with their special effects. This, in my opinion, is the number one reason why low-budget horror / thriller films fail to impress. If you don’t have a Matrix budget, don’t try for Matrix special effects! Simple, right?

In The Ruins there is a decent amount of CGI once we are introduced to the supernatural beings but most of the horror is provided by dread and intelligent lighting, or rather, lack of it. I think that since the film is called The Ruins it is pretty easy to tell that the major environment that the film takes place in, is in-fact, some ruins.

Without giving too much of the plot away two couples are vacationing in Mexico when they meet a German guy while partying. He is off to meet up with some archaeologist friends the following morning who are off on a dig that is not on the tourist trail. Since all 20 somethings want to be able to say that they did something truly unique they decide to join him. One other single guy joins them and we’ll just call him a Star Trek red shirt because it is pretty obvious that he is going to be the first one to go.

Everything seems normal enough and the only omen they receive that they might want to reconsider going to this place is that the taxi driver is very reluctant to take them there – he refuses at first but then they offer him a bunch of money. After this, he won’t take them all the way.

Of course no one’s phone get a signal out there because just like most horror films (or films in general) with a pretty thin plot, the existence of cell phones would totally ruin the entire story. Upon encountering entering the ruins they are confronted by a bunch of locals who refuse to allow them to leave once they have set foot on the ruins.

They try to depart anyway and this is where “Star Trek red shirt” is dispatched, right on schedule.

They soon realize that the archaeologist friends actually were there at one point because the German guy recognizes their tents and some of their other gear. There is also a rather ominous hole in the top of the ruins with a crank leading into the heart of it. Normal people would decide to devise a plan for escape but instead, they decide to venture into the ruins – because of course they do.

Other than a few moments I wouldn’t say anything terribly unpredictable ever happens but there are a few well-timed jump scares and there is also so pretty gruesome gore that takes place which is extremely well done and well filmed. It looks very real and this is a massive plus (in my book) for a lower budget film

Overall, this film impressed me a lot more than most of the movies I have practically forced upon me by the Netflix menu, and I remained entertained the entire way through. It isn’t too long, and almost no time is wasted on senseless “side missions” or dialogue. The acting is also extremely good even though I have never heard of any of these people.

Should I watch this??

If you are a fan of horror films, or even better, horror films that have to be inventive due to low budgets, then I would say “YES!” Just be prepared for some pretty extreme gore because even though it doesn’t happen often, it is pretty gruesome when it does.