The Ruins (2008)

Camping can be fun but others prefer to hit the beach, all across the Americas. Mexico has some beautiful beaches and some ancient, gorgeous ruins. Why not try to fit a bit of culture and history in between stretches of lounging on the beach? Be sure to stay to the standard tourist traps though! “The Ruins” is a great film that builds suspense and desperation throughout the film as a group of college age friends find themselves trapped on an ancient Mayan temple in the middle of the jungle. If they stay, they will be consumed by the vines that grow wildly all over the stone or if they try to leave the temple they will be shot by locals who know the truth about the vines. What gives this movie its strength is its cast and the choices they face and follow through with. This movie, just like moments in “Cabin Fever” leave you wondering what would you do in that situation.

Couples Jeff and Amy, Eric and Stacy, are vacationing in Mexico when they meet a German tourist named Mathias. He offers them the chance to come with him on a day trip to a secret Mayan temple that his brother is working at. They decide to go, along with Mathias’s friend Dimitri. When they finally get to the ruins, the group is surrounded by a mob of locals who are holding guns and bows. When Amy steps on one of the many vines at the site, the mob becomes angered and raise their weapons. They shoot Dimitri in the head when he moves towards them. The group begins to climb the temple and avoid the risk of getting shot at. Once on top, they hear the ring tone of the phone that Mathias brother had. They find it inside the temple, but as they are trying to retrieve it, Mathias breaks his leg in a fall and Stacy is also injured when she tries to rescue him. They eventually get everyone out but the damage is done; Mathias has a broken leg and Stacy, Amy, and Karen have touched more vines than they ever should have. They also become aware that the vines can move and mimic sounds, like the phone’s ring tone. The situation becomes dire when the vines start attacking and the group loses all hope of escape.

Favorite moment - I love who quickly the climax escalates into pure chaos after the breaking point is found; it's a "now or never" kind of moment.