The Ruins

Surprisingly good performances in what is otherwise a sub-par, xenophobic campfire tale. There’s no cause and effect here. The “villain” isn’t what causes all the problems, so it’s hard to focus your emotion on anything tangible. However, the acting, especially by Jena Malone and Laura Ramsey, is unusually, almost incongruously good for this kind of movie. It’s worth seeing for that alone; in spite of the fact that you’ll wish, as I did, that all of this good acting could have been based on a more interesting script.