Four tourists on vacation in Mexico are convinced to visit secret Mayan ruins where they become trapped and threatened by flesh-eating vines.

Horror movies relish in thrusting unsuspecting travelers into harrowing situations abroad. THE RUINS (2008) is no exception to the trope, however, it skirts most xenophobic tendencies of similar films and delivers a shocking eco-terror “gore de  force”.

A poolside pitch from a handsome German tourist tempts a group of adventure-seeking American students on a hike miles into forbidden Mexican jungle. Furious warnings from the Maya people fail to deter the brazen troupe, leading to the discovery that the ruins are actually a quarantined pyramid, infested with people-eating plants, and armed locals have it surrounded to prohibit a spread.

Panic and carnage ensue atop the sun-soaked monument. The vines mimic ringing cell phones and voices, confusing the exhausted troupe as they’re inevitably taken over. They tamper with their bodies and each others, cutting into and sawing off body parts to fend off vines that are worming their way into open wounds. The bone grinding, tendon ripping, head splattering horror is where this movie stands out – incredibly realistic, stomach-turning practical effects. There’s a scene involving a hot cast iron pan that…never mind.

Maybe stick to the itinerary next time.