DreamWorks has released a movie trailer for the upcoming big screen adaptation of Scott Smith’s bestselling novel The Ruins. Smith is of course the critically-acclaimed author and screenwriter of A Simple Plan. The Ruins follows two American couples, just out of college, enjoying a pleasant, lazy beach holiday together in Mexico , who become entangled in a brutal struggle for survival after visiting remote Mayan ruins, site of a fabled archeological dig. Directed by Carter Smith, the film adaptation stars Jonathan Tucker (The Black Donnellys), Jena Malone (Saved), Shawn Ashmore (X-Men: The Last Stand), Laura Ramsey (She’s the Man) and Joe Anderson (Across the Universe).
A couple of my friends have read the book, which was highly recommended by Stephen King (quote below), and were disappointed. It seems to me that the story is less visual and more psychological, which might translate better on the big screen.
“The book of the summer. . . . No quietly building, Ruth Rendell-style suspense here; Smith intends to scare the bejabbers out of you, and succeeds. There are no chapters and no cutaways-The Ruins is your basic long scream of horror. It does for Mexican vacations what Jaws did for New England beaches in 1975. . . . It works well enough, I think, to be the book most people will be talking about this summer. Enjoy the beach . . . enjoy the books . . . and watch out for those Mexican ruins.”
- Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly
Watch the trailer below.
The Ruins hits theaters on April 11th, 2008.
source: AtomFilms
via: Bloody-Disgusting
December 20th, 2007 at 1:16 am
I can’t wait to see this. As corny as it may sound. This looks surprisingly horrifying.
December 20th, 2007 at 2:13 am
Wow, that’s a pretty terrible trailer.
While the book is a bestseller, I wonder whether adult audiences will make the connection based on this preview: it looks like “Touristas” meets “Bug” in a very been there done that way.
For a film like this, the trailer needs to build suspense, but more importantly, epic mystery a la “Cloverfield.” Gotta use a pull quote connecting the film to the book, like “Based on the most terryfying bestseller of the decade.” W/O that and Jena Malone’s minor cred notwithstanding, most adults will think it’s another torture porn knockoff.
Also, even if mature audiences read reviews of this flick to decide whether to go or not, the words “gets raped by a plant” are not going to be enticing. #1) Evil Dead did it already, and #2) it’s just a silly concept to see in a serious film like this.
December 20th, 2007 at 4:51 am
Yes, I totally agree with TheDohDoh, the book is a bestseller. The Ruins had been twelve long years since Scott Smith broke on the scene with A Simple Plan when his second novel debuted. And it has a good review, you guys could have a look: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1213612,00.html
The Ruins immediately catch my attention and I couldn’t wait to dig into it, not knowing what I am signing up for and not knowing just how far into horror it’d plunge. The most attracting point is just how unassuming and simplistic it is. I love horror, but truthfully written horror hardly affects me in the same way a good horror film does. However, this novel got under my skin and filled me with that ever-increasing dread where you know that whatever happens. “Get the knife!” and the whimpering sounds of the Greek still haunt me. I’d like to recommend it to you, I found this book at:
dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=73838
Of course, it’s not for everyone. But it is for those who are looking for what amounts to an elongated scream. Frankly, the trailer is a bit of terrible. But I love. I am looking forward to 4/11/2008. I believe it will be wonderful. Wow!
December 20th, 2007 at 6:59 am
This looks like it has potential. It seems to be more influenced by films like “The Descent” rather than “Hostel”, which for me is a very good sign. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.
December 20th, 2007 at 8:44 am
I’m sorry, but I disagree. I believe this worked better as a novel. It will not be a big hit. See, the problem is that it’s a good concept, but in the end it’s not enough.
December 20th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
I’ve never been as disappointed with a book as with “The Ruins” and the trailer doesn’t look much better.
December 27th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
I absolutely LOVED the book. It was exciting to read. I could not put the book down. It was very interesting to see the decisions people make when they are put in quite different situations. All along, I thought it would be great to be on the big screen. I hope that the movie lives up to the reputation of the book. ENJOY!
December 30th, 2007 at 10:21 am
YOU’RE ALL IDIOTS. THE BOOK WAS AWESOME.
December 30th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
i couldnt put the book down, and by the looks of things, i think the cast will make it a smash hit!
January 4th, 2008 at 4:50 am
I bought the book at the airport on my way to the canaries and finished it the second day I was there. It was simply excellent and a real page turner. I cant understand why anyone wouldn’t like it.
However the best thing about the book was that it
allowed me to see all the action through my own
imaginaton and that helped build suspense.
I do think the story would adapt to a film version
and I look forward to seeing it when it is released
in the UK.
Unfortunatly the trailer has ZERO suspense so I
just hope the movie does the book justice.
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I am in the middle of reading the book right now because i saw the trailer for the movie and I love it. I keep telling my co worker what is happening in the book and every day when i come into the office she asks “Did you read more last night?” It IS more of a psych thriller than anything but being a psych major it is really a satisfingly scary book. I am hoping that the movie will live up to the suspense and horror the book offered. But i have my doubts considering Ben Stiller is one of the producers and i know he directed on of the most horrible movies i have ever seen. Being “The Cable Guy”.
January 27th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I just finished the book today and it was great! Read it in three days, it flies. Scott Smith is an excellent story-teller, he can convey in a sentence what it would take others a paragraph to tell. The trailer? I agree with many here– they ought to have included “from the best-selling book” or something that sets it apart. That aside, it was not a very well-assembled trailer. And there was no female in the book that said “It’s inside me”… I’m guessing Scott Smith is changing a few plot details to make it “more” entertaining”. I always hate that. And Ben Stiller is one of the producers?? NO!!!!
March 2nd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I read this book last summer and it was amazing! I am so excited for the movie to come out. It will be great.
March 9th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I LOVED the book as well and I never wanted to put it down. Once I finished it, I wanted more. I am VERY excited to see the movie and I really hope they do the book justice! =)
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
The book, really wasn’t all that great, hopefully they improved this work, instead of making it worse than the book… that would be a sad excuse for a movie if they did.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Nonsense…, the book was excellent. I bought it in the airport on my way to a week abroad and had finished it by day 2. It completely gripped me and I felt I was actually there. The decripive language was superb, Looking at the trailer, the expedition camp is exactly how I imagined it to be, reading the book.
I can’t wait of this to come out in the UK.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I’ve just finished THE RUINS, a horror story that grabbed me from the start and left me panting at the end. I can’t remember a horror novel affecting me like this one has since I read King’s SALEM’S LOT years ago. I’m impressed by the depth of characterization of the four main characters, which heightened the horror. I even read it while I brushed my teeth. I couldn’t put it down.
I’ve tried to see the movie, but it had very limited showings at a couple of theaters 25 miles from my home, then disappeared. I’ll have to get it from Netflik. I can hardly wait to see it.
June 7th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I read the book 2 weeks ago and was deeply affected. I’m a traveler usually wondering off the beaten path, (drove to Coba w/ no water, directions, gas) so this book caused me to reflect on my life quite a bit. My zest for adventure is now of caution. Like the commenter b-4 me the movie is not in too many theaters in my area, so I’ll have to wait for the rental.
LA