Kevin's Watch

When describing this film, one word sums it all up:

Brutal.

That's how it feels. There's none of the supernatural, hokey-pokey, let's make up a ghost or a spirit or an alien and use it as an excuse to kill people.

While there was a little of that, most of the violence was in the form of, "This guy's leg is bleeding, let's put a tourniquet on it."

Now take that sentence, and make it about 1,000,000 times worse, and you have the majority of the gore in the film.

Spoiler

And while the idea of these vines is clearly exaggerated, it's also easy enough to believe the idea behind it.

It's rather like the idea in 28 Days Later: a virus that drives you insane with rage. We've already got a virus like that; it's called Rabies, and it works in about 30 days instead of 30 seconds, but the idea is the same.

In the same way, there are definitely carniverous plants that move to track their prey, and imitate things to attract their prey. They don't move as quickly as these plants are shown moving, but the idea is still grounded in something that's real.

Movies like this are much more appealing to me than, say, the Nightmare on Elmstreet films, which are completely fabricated.

Also, it's fun to see a horror movie done in the daylight, that still manages to be scary.

Overall, it was extremely fun to watch, and the ending did NOT feel like a letdown (I find that most horror movies do). Go see it

I still have a few chapters in the book to read before I watch the movie; the directors cut is awaiting opening. I really liked the book; it is soooo heartbreaking and wretched in parts that I can't see them including some of the scenes in the movie. The writing is what first kept me going despite my not normally reading horror novels; the author has a way with words. I hope the movie lives up to the novel.

Would you say the book is worth reading? I don't normally read horror, since I usually find it too emotionally bankrupt (damn, Donaldson spoiled me as a reader).

I've read the book, and it's brutal. KT, are you sure you're reading the right book, 'cause there are no chapters in The Ruins.

I'm hesitant to see the film because I'm not sure I want to see some of the stuff depicted in the book.

Ya, no chapters, pardon. 100 pages to go. I recommend the book due to the great writing style I mentioned above and the unique tale. I have also read a few King books and that's my total of horror novels. Saw Ruins at an airport and found the jacket description interesting and began a gut-wrenching reading ordeal. I have had to put the book down a number of times and shake off the feeling that I am there with those poor kids. hehe

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Dang, too many spoilers over there for those who haven't finished the book. I almost saw something...!