The Ruins

NEW YORK (CNS) -- "The Ruins" (DreamWorks) is a dreary, gruesome horror tale about a group of young gringos who wander off the beaten path in Mexico with disastrous results.

Just as their south-of-the-border vacation is ending, best friends Amy (Jena Malone) and Stacy (Laura Ramsey) and their respective boyfriends Jeff (Jonathan Tucker) and Eric (Shawn Ashmore) meet German visitor Mathias (Joe Anderson) by the pool of their hotel. He's off to visit the little-known temple his archaeologist brother is working on deep in the jungle, and invites them along.

Arriving at the impressive site, they quickly find themselves surrounded by armed locals who inexplicably refuse to let them leave. Instead they are forced to remain atop the pyramid-shaped structure, waiting for rescue. There they gradually discover what it is their captors fear.

Along with some gratuitous nudity, director Carter Smith's film subjects its audience to several noisome scenes of jarringly painful medical procedures carried out in the most primitive circumstances.

The film contains gory scenes of murder, amputation and mutilation, partial frontal, upper female and rear nudity, implied nonmarital sex and frequent rough and occasional crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops