Scott Smith's The Ruins opens April 11th . Scott Smith wrote the screenplay but left out the plants ability to mimic voices because he feared it might become unintentionally funny. I loved this book , will have to see it when it comes out.

Leaving the plants voices out, kind of "ruins" the plot, doesn't it?

We'll have to see. Thanks for letting us know. I had no idea a screenplay had been produced.

I had no idea this was being developed into a movie. Guess I need to get it off my shelf and go read it.

Yup-It's been calling to me ever since I got it from Ellen (thanks again!) and now I REALLY must read it! I had wanted it for a long time but still haven't sat down to read it!! Nothing like a good creepy book for the Christmas season eh?

Stcay

Your welcome, Stacy!

I think I was the only one who hated this book!!!   It seemed juvenile to me. Am I the only one?

Christa

Christa,

Nope. I hated it too. I don't know if it was juvenile just felt pointless and violent.

I liked it, but didn't love it. And I bet it'll bomb as a movie.

I do think Smith was right--the plants mimicing voices would probably have been quite funny in a movie--I thought it was fairly funny in the book.

Bob

I thought it was the weakest point of the book. I can't imagine a movie where the plants squeal, "Boy Scout! Boy Scout!"

I feel like there was enough psychological torture going on without having to resort to taunting, too.

I loved the book. I thought it was refreshing (especially not to hear about vampires, which are overused) and I think the scenes in well at the beginning were some of the creepiest I've read.

I'm so glad to see that there were other people out there who did not like this book.  When I read about this book last year I thought it sounded so good and couldn't wait to read it.  In fact, I bought it in hardcover at Border's so I paid full price for it.  The one thing that really bothered me was the format of the book.  I couldn't stand the fact that it did not have an chapters.  Secondly, I also found the whole thing to be pretty pointless.  I was not entertained at all and actually thought about giving up on it.

This is definitely one movie I will not be seeing.

I haven't read the book but was drawn to this topic because i saw the trailer. it looked creepy, but then, lots of horror trailers look creepy and turn out terrible.

So I finally read it. I really enjoyed it. I actually don't see that there would have been a problem with the plants talking, mainly because they mimicked the actual characters' voices. Just don't show the plants "talking." yk? But I don't really think it's necessary either.

I do wish the book had done more with the old mine - I love creepy underground things...but it's also better to leave certain things unexplained, IMO.

I just ordered the book from someone...I probably won't see the movie. My boyf refuses to see movies made from books...that I read.

.....it's SO rare to find a truly well-written horror story.  For me, most of today's horror authors are either bad writers (Edward Lee comes to mind) or the stories are too formulaic to hold my interest (yep, I'm looking at you Dean Koontz).  THE RUINS was incredibly well-written.....BUT I found the story a bit silly.  So, overall, I'm pro THE RUINS and would love to have Smith write more horror.

Each person wrestled with fear, frustration and acceptance, wonderful how this was depicted. And the ending, it was awsome, especially as you see the next group beginning the tragic walk up the "hill of no return"

                           peace and blessings

                                          bill

OK, i finished the book and I liked it but I wish they had explained what role the Mayans actually played in the story and what had brought them(the Mayans) to that point.

Stacy

Just finished this book.  Seemed more like a psychological thriller than horror.  I know the vines were creatures but the focus was primarily on the people and eating and drinking and trusting etc.  I give him kudos for not spending 200 pages on details.  He got right to the matter at hand and the rest of the book was all about suffering.  I loved the cell phone part and the mimic of sex (wonder if that really happened?) the book had it's moments.  I am all set to watch the movie but with a book of this type, unless the vine is vicious and relentless, the movie will be quite the yawner.  We shall see.

I got around to finishing this book today. I thought it was entertaining, but not one of my favorites. The pacing was great I didn't feel like we were given too much of a break in between all these horrific events. I didn't really care for any of the characters, though. I knew they were all going to die shortly after the first day on the hill. The plot was somewhat unbelievable, but it was a nice escape for a while. I could see them putting  a lot of gore into the movie especially with the self-mutilation. I love horror movies so I will see it regardless of the negative reviews. I hope Smith writes more horror novels. I look forward to reading more.

I've got this book on my shelf if anyone is interested:)

Stacy

Me too, Stacy!  Hey, can anyone tell me why they did not do the most obvious thing in my opinion, try to burn the vine up.  With the alcohol they had and a few matches and as hot as it was most of the time, they could have started a fire and tried to get out during the chaos.  Might have made an exciting ending.  Just thoughts!

gibby

That is a smart idea they could have tried. I just don't think the Mayans would care. The fire would be burning the vines, but if they tried to run off the hill they would still shoot them. Unless they destroyed every single vine, but they grow at a fast rate? Heh, I don't know.

Yeah, the Mayans may still have objected.  Not sure though.  It was pretty unclear as to the relationship between those two.  Did they worship the thing?  Were they trying to stop the group from treading on holy ground?  Was the concern about them leaving due to fear of them telling the world about their god or was it about spreading the vine elsewhere?  Would they be grateful if the group could have somehow destroyed the thing?  Lot's of questions.

gibby

it was stated in the book a time or two that the people on the hill had green stuff on their skin and clothing...maybe spores or seeds of the vine?  maybe the Mayans thought that if they left the hill the vine would spread.  (hence the area around the hill being sown with salt.)