Horror fans with a Paramount+ subscription can enjoy a hidden gem from the 2000s. While everyone waits for news on when Scream 7 will be available to stream, Paramount+ has a great selection of horror movies – including titles like A Quiet Place and Scary Movie – and now includes this often-overlooked film from the early 2000s.
The eco-horror film The Ruins, a hidden gem in the genre, became available on Paramount+ on March 1st and is well worth a watch. Directed by Carter Smith in his first feature film, it’s based on Scott B. Smith’s 2006 novel. The story follows a group of American tourists in Mexico whose relaxing vacation quickly turns into a desperate struggle for survival. They’re drawn to a secluded, uncharted Mayan temple and find themselves trapped by suspicious locals and terrifying, carnivorous vines. While the film didn’t achieve mainstream success or critical acclaim, and was often overlooked in ‘best of’ lists, it offers a truly original and frightening take on the creature feature.
The Ruins Delivers Terrifying Botanical Horror
Unlike most monster movies, The Ruins doesn’t feature a giant creature destroying things. The real threat is a terrifying, intelligent plant that grows quickly, eats people, and can even copy sounds. It’s less about a rampaging beast and more of a slow-building, unsettling horror film that truly gets under your skin. The movie focuses on a thinking, man-eating vine that draws victims in, turning the story into a tense exploration of loneliness, fear, and the will to survive. The characters are trapped not only by the plant, but also by local villagers who won’t let them leave, creating a suffocating sense of confinement. And the way the vines burrow into people, forcing them into desperate and disturbing acts of self-harm, delivers some truly shocking body horror.
What sets this movie apart, beyond its strong concept and terrifying visuals, is that it takes place almost entirely in broad daylight. This unusual choice eliminates the typical safety of darkness, leaving the characters completely exposed and turning what should be a relaxing vacation into a true nightmare. The film also excels at creating relatable characters who make sensible decisions, which unfortunately leads to a deeply unsettling and realistically hopeless situation where even smart choices can’t prevent a horrifying outcome.
What’s New on Paramount+?
On March 1st, Paramount+ added a variety of films to its streaming library, including the horror movie The Ruins. Horror fans will find plenty to enjoy, with titles like Crawl, most of the Friday the 13th series, and both versions of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary (1989 and 2019) plus its sequel. Beyond horror, Paramount+ also offers films like 21 Jump Street, Good Will Hunting, and The Banshees of Inisherin.
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2026-03-26 02:40