
The 2008 horror film The Ruins was primarily shot in Queensland, Australia, despite being set in Mexico. The film's producers chose Queensland for its picturesque and varied landscapes, which provided the perfect backdrop for the film's tense and terrifying narrative. The film follows a group of friends who embark on a remote archaeological dig in the Mexican jungle, where they encounter something evil lurking among the ruins. The lush, wildlife-rich landscapes of Queensland's Gold Coast and Mount Tamborine provided a stark contrast to the dark events of the film, adding depth and realism to the storytelling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location in the movie | Mexico |
| Filming location | Queensland, Australia |
| Studios | Village Roadshow Studios, Entertainment Rd, Oxenford QLD |
| Specific locations | Mount Tamborine, Gold Coast |
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What You'll Learn

The movie was filmed in Queensland, Australia
The 2008 horror film The Ruins was filmed in Queensland, Australia. The film is based on a group of friends who embark on a remote archaeological dig in the Mexican jungle, where they encounter a dangerous ancient Mayan temple. Despite the film being set in Mexico, Queensland's scenic beauty and unique settings were essential to the film's visual storytelling.
Queensland's varied landscapes offered the ideal backdrop for the film, with its lush rainforests, gorgeous mountains, and vibrant metropolitan areas. The film was shot in several locations across Queensland, including the Gold Coast, Mount Tamborine, and the Village Roadshow Studios in Oxenford.
The Gold Coast, located just south of Brisbane on Australia's eastern coast, provided the perfect blend of natural beauty and modern entertainment. The region boasts broad sandy beaches, ideal surfing spots, and numerous waterways and canals, resembling the allure of the Mexican setting portrayed in the film.
Mount Tamborine, situated in the Tamborine Mountain range, offered luscious rainforests and tranquil surroundings. The filmmakers constructed three-quarters of a Mayan pyramid in this location, allowing for outdoor shots that captured the ominous atmosphere of the temple setting.
The Village Roadshow Studios, with their sound stages and production facilities, hosted pivotal scenes for the film, including intense moments of the characters' encounters with the carnivorous vines. The controlled confines of the studio setting provided a strategic contrast to the colourful and varied natural landscapes of Queensland.
The decision to film in Queensland allowed for the effective juxtaposition of breathtaking environments with the horrific events depicted in the film. The diverse locations added depth and realism to the story, showcasing the flexibility and cinematic potential of Queensland's landscapes.
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Queensland was chosen for its picturesque landscapes
Queensland, Australia, was chosen as the filming location for the 2008 horror film The Ruins. The film is based on a novel of the same name by Scott Smith and directed by Carter Smith. It follows a group of friends who embark on a remote archaeological dig in the Mexican jungle, where they encounter evil Mayan ruins entangled with man-eating vines.
Queensland was chosen for its picturesque and varied landscapes, which provided the perfect backdrop for the film's visual storytelling. The state's scenic beauty and unique settings added depth and realism to the film, with its lush rainforests and gorgeous natural landscapes.
One of the main filming locations in Queensland was the village of Mount Tamborine in South East Queensland, located in the Tamborine Mountain range. Mount Tamborine's luscious rainforests and gorgeous landscapes offered a tranquil setting, contrasting the hectic urban landscape of the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast, with its sandy beaches, surfing areas, and waterways, also provided an ideal filming location, doubling for the Cancun resort in Mexico where the film is set.
The production team of The Ruins initially thought finding a location to fit their premise would be easy, but they soon realized it was impossible to find the perfect hill with forests, cliffs, and rivers all in one place. Australia offered the varied landscapes they needed, and Queensland, in particular, provided the ideal mix of natural beauty and entertainment.
The film's atmospheric tension was effectively amplified by its strategic use of settings, ranging from the controlled confines of Village Roadshow Studios to Queensland's colorful and varied natural landscapes. The juxtaposition between the lush beauty of the environments and the horrific events of the film created a sense of dread for viewers.
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The film was partly shot at Village Roadshow Studios
The Ruins, a 2008 horror film directed by Carter Smith, was partly filmed at the Village Roadshow Studios in Oxenford, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The film was based on Scott Smith's novel of the same name.
The Village Roadshow Studios, established in June 1991, have become a cornerstone of the Australian film industry. The studios have nine sound stages and a variety of production facilities. The Ruins was not the only renowned feature film to be hosted by the studios. Other famous films shot at the studios include The Chronicles of Narnia, San Andreas, House of Wax, Scooby-Doo, and the series H2O: Just Add Water.
The Ruins was shot in several locations in Queensland, Australia, including the Gold Coast, Mount Tamborine, and the Village Roadshow Studios. Queensland's scenic beauty and unique settings were essential to the film's visual storytelling. The film team behind The Ruins wanted to find a hill with forests, cliffs, and rivers layered around it, but they couldn't find a perfect location that was also practical. As a result, they decided to split the set into two parts: the top of the temple/hill and the bottom, which encompassed a jungle environment.
The Ruins was primarily shot in Australia during the winter, even though the film takes place in Mexico during the summer. Queensland's picturesque and varied landscapes added depth and realism to the film while providing a flexible backdrop. The locations used in the film, such as the Gold Coast, Mount Tamborine, and the Village Roadshow Studios, offer a blend of natural beauty and entertainment.
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The Gold Coast was used to portray Cancun
The Ruins, a 2008 horror film, was shot in Queensland, Australia. The film is based on a novel of the same name by Scott Smith and directed by Carter Smith. The story follows two couples on vacation in Mexico who join a German tourist, Mathias, to visit a remote Mayan ruin.
The film was shot in various locations across Queensland, including the Gold Coast, Mount Tamborine, and Village Roadshow Studios. The Gold Coast, with its sandy beaches, surfing spots, and numerous waterways and canals, was used to portray Cancun, where the film is partly set. The Gold Coast's natural beauty and entertainment offerings made it an ideal location to depict the allure of Cancun.
The production team chose Australia for its picturesque and varied landscapes, which provided a flexible backdrop for the film. Queensland's scenic beauty and unique settings were essential to the film's visual storytelling. The state offers a range of natural environments, from lush rainforests and tranquil mountains to the hectic urban landscape of the Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast, located on Australia's eastern coast just south of Brisbane, is known for its blend of natural beauty and entertainment options. The region is home to renowned theme parks such as Dreamworld, Sea World, and Wet'n'Wild, as well as the wildlife-rich landscapes of Lamington National Park.
The use of the Gold Coast to portray Cancun in The Ruins showcases the versatility of Queensland's locations and the ability to transform them to match the setting of the story.
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The production team built a Mayan pyramid in Queensland
The Ruins, a 2008 horror film, was shot in Queensland, Australia. The film showcases Queensland's scenic beauty and unique settings, which were essential to the film's visual storytelling. The production team chose to film in several locales across Queensland, including the Gold Coast, Mount Tamborine, and the Village Roadshow Studios.
The film centres on a group of friends who embark on a remote archaeological dig in the Mexican jungle, where they uncover a Mayan temple entangled with carnivorous vines. To create this setting, the production team built a Mayan pyramid in Queensland.
The production team initially planned to find a hill with forests, cliffs, and rivers to shoot the entire movie on location. However, they encountered challenges due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of suitable locations. As a result, they decided to split the set into two parts: the top of the temple/hill and the bottom, which encompassed a jungle environment.
Queensland's Mount Tamborine, known for its ominous-looking trees, was chosen as the location for building the Mayan pyramid. The production team constructed three-quarters of a Mayan pyramid large enough for the actors to climb. The outdoor shooting presented challenges due to the shifting daylight, which limited work hours.
The production team's decision to build the Mayan pyramid in Queensland allowed them to create a realistic and immersive experience for the audience, enhancing the film's atmospheric tension and visual storytelling.
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Frequently asked questions
The Ruins was filmed in Queensland, Australia.
The film was shot in several locations in Queensland, including the Gold Coast, Mount Tamborine, and Village Roadshow Studios.
Queensland's scenic beauty and unique settings were essential to the film's visual storytelling. The varied and picturesque landscapes added depth and realism to the film.
No, while most of the filming took place in Australia, the movie was set in Mexico.
















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