***1/2

Scott Smith’s horror novel “The Ruins” was praised by Stephen King as the “best horror novel of the new century.” As a huge fan of King’s let me tell you that is not hyperbole. I read “The Ruins” shortly after it was released while on vacation (thankfully not in Mexico) and finished it early one morning in the kitchen while everyone else was still asleep. The book gnawed at me. It was disturbing and bleak, as well as terrifying and unsettling. “The Ruins” is one of the best horror novels I have ever read.

When it was announced they were bringing the book to the screen, I was nervous, but Smith was adapting his novel for the screen, so if it failed there would be nobody to blame but himself.

“The Ruins,” the movie, is almost just as good as the book, which for novels being adapted to the screen means it is a home run.

The plot is as old as horror movies themselves. Two young couples are vacationing at a resort in Mexico and on the day before they are supposed to leave they decide to accompany a friend to some ancient Mayan ruins to help look for his brother. After seeing nothing but the pool and the bottoms of endless margaritas for most of their stay, they decide to go for an adventure. Unfortunately, it’s an adventure that will destroy them.

Once at the ruins, the people of a neighboring village won’t let them leave, so they spend their time on the top waiting for rescue. Many bad things happen and it seems like something is coming after them in a truly horrible way.

I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises, so you’ll need to see this for yourself.

Now, the question is, can you handle it? It certainly has its gross moments, but “The Ruins” is more about suspense. Where the book and the film succeed is by giving the characters a tough situation with even tougher choices to make. Though they are out in the open of a very exotic part of Mexico, “The Ruins” is also very claustrophobic. These four friends are now closer than they have ever been and must count on each other to survive.

The acting is very good, which is surprising since most horror movies just fill the screen with untalented actors with pretty faces. The four lead actors have appeared in a number of high-profile films and programs (“Into The Wild,” “In the Valley of Elah,” “XMen 2 and 3”), although most aren’t well-known as of yet. Smith’s script is as efficient as his text, getting the relationships between the characters front and center before they face their major crisis.

The only thing wrong with the film, and it is minor, is that the ending is different from the book. I guess Hollywood called for a brighter ending and Smith and director Carter Smith obliged. It didn’t ruin anything and it made sense, so I can’t fault them for not ending too dark, but I also hope there is no sequel. “The Ruins” needs to stay what it is - a classic horror novel with a good film adaptation. Please makers of this movie, think of how unnecessary “The Rage: Carrie 2” was.

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