Horror

‘The Ruins’ Will Get Under Your Skin [The Overlook Motel]


master mentalism tricks


Director Carter Smith delivers a tense and unsettling experience with his feature film debut

The Ruins

Welcome to The Overlook Motel, a place where under-seen and unappreciated films are given their moment in the spotlight. I hope you enjoy your stay here and find the accommodations to be suitable. Now, please take a seat and make yourself comfortable, I have some misbehaving guests to ‘correct’. 

On the latest installment of The Overlook Motel, I am pleased to be singing the praises of The Ruins. This flick was released during a short-lived wave of features that saw American tourists running into trouble while vacationing internationally. Think Turistas or Hostel but with more depth and better characters. 

In spite of being largely forgotten in the years since its release, I would contend that The Ruins is a far better film than Hostel or Turistas. While those horror stories focused on international tourism leaned into the torture porn craze, The Ruins is a more cerebral effort. It gets very gory at times but doesn’t rely solely on shock value and gimmickry to reach its audience. 

Related Post: ‘The Ruins’: In the Face of Nature, There is No Preparation

The Ruins (which is based on the novel of the same name by Scott Smith, who also adapted his tome for the screen) serves up a unique premise. It pits a group of American tourists visiting a historical landmark against sentient and malevolent plants. And it’s probably that very setup that has put some people off from checking out this under-appreciated flick. On paper, the premise sounds ridiculous. But the fact of the matter is that the concept is smartly executed. Plus the sentient shrubbery becomes quite menacing, creating a constant sense of unease.  

In addition to carefully crafting an ever-present sense of apprehension, The Ruins also (wisely) maintains a sense of mystery surrounding the picture’s central antagonist. Yes, I mean the plants. And that is a wise choice. It’s a tall order to make greenery ominous. If the film were to reveal too much about the evil at play, that could easily lessen the intensity and take the audience out of the experience. 

Instead of wasting precious time on unnecessary exposition, director Carter Smith keeps the focus on the strain that the sneaky greenery manages to place on the interpersonal relationships between the central characters. And that proves to be quite effective. As seeds of distrust and resentment are sown, the tension between the leads reaches almost unbearable levels. As the friends transition from easygoing tourists to scared and suspicious victims, the tension and paranoia continue to mount, adding to an already harrowing viewing experience.

Also Read: Return of the Living Dead III is a Punk Rock Zombie Love Story for the Ages [The Overlook Motel]

Speaking of the leads, the core cast members are surprisingly palatable for this type of film. They don’t spend the entire picture acting like obnoxious outsiders, pissing on local culture. The group is dynamic and easier to relate to than one might expect going into the film. They don’t always make the right choices. But there wouldn’t be much to work with (from a narrative standpoint) if they did. And with that said, the key players don’t spend the entire film eschewing common sense in favor of emotionally charged stupidity. In fact, Jeff (Jonathan Tucker) is a medical student who gets to flex his knowledge and even gains some field experience along the way. 

The film performed moderately well at the box office in 2008. It brought in a worldwide gross of just under $23 million. However, the critical response was lukewarm. It seems to be forgotten by all but a small group of devoted fans. And that’s a shame, seeing as how The Ruins is a slick picture. Itdelivers high levels of suspense and manages to make plant life scary, which is no small feat. If you haven’t yet seen The Ruins, you can catch it on HBO Max, as of the publication of this post.  

If you’re keen to chat more about this often-overlooked feature, hit me up on Twitter @FunWithHorror!

Sign up for The Harbinger a Dread Central Newsletter

Read The Full Article Here


trick photography
Keke Palmer Started Crying After Being Reminded That It’s “Not Normal” To Have Been Her Family’s Breadwinner At Age 12
Keke Palmer Started Crying After Being Reminded That It’s “Not Normal” To Have Been Her Family’s Breadwinner At Age 12
Conan O’Brien on Robin Williams’ Ugly Gift After Tonight Show Firing
Conan O’Brien on Robin Williams’ Ugly Gift After Tonight Show Firing
5 Things to Know About the Country Singer – Hollywood Life
5 Things to Know About the Country Singer – Hollywood Life
People Are Sharing The Celebrities They Abruptly Changed Their Opinion On, And It's Fascinating
People Are Sharing The Celebrities They Abruptly Changed Their Opinion On, And It's Fascinating
Here’s What Cara Delevingne Said About Living With Taylor Swift
Here’s What Cara Delevingne Said About Living With Taylor Swift
The Differences Between the Movie and the Broadway Show
The Differences Between the Movie and the Broadway Show
Witches review – leaves you wowed, wounded and educated
Witches review – leaves you wowed, wounded and educated
Why Did Zeus Leave T1? Explained
Why Did Zeus Leave T1? Explained
Silo Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Order
Silo Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Order
How ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’ Sets Up Leighton’s Exit in Season 3
How ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’ Sets Up Leighton’s Exit in Season 3
9-1-1 Sneak Peek: Brad’s Ready To Saddle Up!
9-1-1 Sneak Peek: Brad’s Ready To Saddle Up!
What Jeff Probst Really Thinks About That Shot in the Dark Sacrifice
What Jeff Probst Really Thinks About That Shot in the Dark Sacrifice
23 New Rock + Metal Tours Announced This Past Week
23 New Rock + Metal Tours Announced This Past Week
How to Get Sold-Out Tickets
How to Get Sold-Out Tickets
Coachella 2025 Headliners: Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone, and Travis Scott
Coachella 2025 Headliners: Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone, and Travis Scott
Shaboozey Sings ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ & ‘Highway’ at CMA Awards
Shaboozey Sings ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ & ‘Highway’ at CMA Awards
5 Wickedly Good Books to Read Alongside Your “Wicked” Viewing
5 Wickedly Good Books to Read Alongside Your “Wicked” Viewing
Interview with Kirsten Pursell, Author of The Scarlet D
Interview with Kirsten Pursell, Author of The Scarlet D
10 Gripping True Crime Memoirs
10 Gripping True Crime Memoirs
Mafia Romance Meets a Fractured Fairy Tale in Emily McIntire’s “Hexed”
Mafia Romance Meets a Fractured Fairy Tale in Emily McIntire’s “Hexed”
25 Elevated Basics From the Gap Pre–Black Friday Sale
25 Elevated Basics From the Gap Pre–Black Friday Sale
Taylor Swift Wore an Easy Outfit Trend With Gucci Heels
Taylor Swift Wore an Easy Outfit Trend With Gucci Heels
Best Button-Down Shirts For Women
Best Button-Down Shirts For Women
Shop Carolina Herrera’s Kaleidoscopic Mexico City Show
Shop Carolina Herrera’s Kaleidoscopic Mexico City Show
Original ‘Black Christmas’ Will Get Another Theatrical Run After 50 Years
Original ‘Black Christmas’ Will Get Another Theatrical Run After 50 Years
The Beast of Walton Street Blu-ray Now Available from Scream Team Releasing
The Beast of Walton Street Blu-ray Now Available from Scream Team Releasing
Out of Darkness (2024) – Pelicula de Terror ⋆
Out of Darkness (2024) – Pelicula de Terror ⋆
Stephen King Calls This Netflix Hidden Gem “Bloody terrrific”
Stephen King Calls This Netflix Hidden Gem “Bloody terrrific”