Pan's Labyrinth

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Pan's Labyrinth

From the director of Hellboy and Blade II comes Pan's Labyrinth, a potent mix of fantasy and reality set in the confusion of post civil-war Spain.

11 year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is forced to move with her heavily pregnant mother to a remote Spanish outpost to live with her newly adopted father Capitán Vidal (Sergi López), who he is in charge of quelling local resistance against the new fascist regime. Almost immediately Ofelia's fears and disquiet about her new situation begin to manifest themselves amongst the dark reality surrounding her. In a disused Labyrinth she encounters a faun (definitely not a relation of Mr Tumnus) who promises her salvation if she completes a series of tasks.

Ofelia's world is a dark one, and director Gulliermo del Toro builds the film in such a manner that at times its almost impossible to decipher what constitutes 'reality' and what doesn't. Ofelia's new friends are gruesomely realised; contorted and twisted in a brutal fashion, these creatures are not to be trusted. Yet the most disturbing of characters does not befall on a fantastical realisation but squarely on the shoulders of Capitán Vidal. Ofelia's new father is a wretchedly brutal character, brilliantly portrayed by Sergi Lopez (Dirty Pretty Things) - his, quite frankly evil actions, are more disturbing than any del Torro creation.

Pan's Labyrinth is a beautifully bleak affair. Genuinely gripping and deeply disturbing in places, with a stand-out performance from young Ivana Baquero, Pan's Labyrinth is a harrowing tale. Although touted as a fable this is not a fairy story that can be dismissed lightly, in fact it's more likely to have you thinking about it for days. One of the must-see movies of the year and quite rightly so. Essential viewing.

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Critics' Reviews

Ben Walters, Time Out

A girl on the cusp of adolescence is inducted into a threatening fantasy world where she discovers her own power.... read more on www.timeout.com

Total Film

A stark and disturbing fairy story for adults. It's provocative vision packs chilling power

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Members' Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Dark and moving

Carrie Stewart from London, England , 05/01/2007

I was highly ignorant of what this film would be about. I had seen and heard very little about it, which may have been a good thing. I imagined a young girl being sent to live with this evil guy, overcoming adversity through the aid of a loveable faun. Doesn't that sound nice? (And should David Bowie pop and sing at some point, more's the better. Yes I know it's not that Labyrinth.) I could not have been more wrong if I had tried. What I got was mainly a story of war with snippets of fairytales thrown in, and evil, scary fairytales. The parts set in the real world were highly disturbing, with the Captain being a very vicious man happy to beat people to a bloody pulp on a whim, torture and murder without batting an eye. And our heroine is not safe either. So she happily takes on the faun's tasks that will see her return to the underworld and be free of the Captain. Brilliant tasks, especially the one that sends her underground with one of the scariest film monsters I've ever come across. The man with eyes in his hands. Stay away from the grapes love! Shudder.

This is an excellent film, just not what I expected. Ivana Baquero does a great job of carrying such weighty stuff on her shoulders, and the Captain is perfectly played. The effects were also very good, not too over the top, very realistic, especially the gory bits (though I didn't see that much of them I'll be honest). It was also very moving and did bring tears to my eyes at the end. I really recommend this, but go into it with eyes open, it's certainly not one for the kids.

188 out of 203 people found this review helpful

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There are good films and great films, then there is Pan's Labyrinth. Dark, Magical and Utterly Unforgettable.

Oliver Shorley-Smith from Bedfordshire, England , 20/12/2006

Set in 1940s Spain after the civil war when Franco came to power, Pan's Labyrinth is a story of a little girl called Ofelia, who travels up to northern Spain to live with her pregnant mother and new stepfather - known as 'Captain Videl' - psychopathic fascist ideology is what makes this man tick. To overcome the injustice and brutality of her life Ofelia finds a beautiful if not equally brutal alternate reality that beckons her to stay.

Everything about this film is just perfect. The special effects are amazing, not just for the fantastic mythical creatures Ofelia meets (Who can forget Pale Man?!), but also for the short scenes of violence. For example when Videl has to sew up his own cheek, every squelch and bead of sweat is visible as he slowly puts the needle through his own flesh, you are of course watching a close up of it all aswell! The script, although in Spanish, has some very intelligent lines about the evils of Ofelia's world, Woe to those who want to watch it dubbed, it'll make the film lose its magic.

The film's message is comparable to the society of the 1940s but the lessons you will learn are just as important especially in this right winged paranoid society we live in today. We all want to believe in a fantasy of a perfect world, we get promises from the people in charge that things 'will' change if just believe and do what they say no questions asked, but life should never be that easy. Always question what your told!

The film escalates towards its unforgettable heart rendering conclusion via masterful direction and story telling. Speical effects, scripting, acting and overall atmosphere of the film are second to none!

If you are reading this review, you are probably thinking about renting this film anyway, just go for it!

104 out of 116 people found this review helpful

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Most Recent Reviews

I would defy anybody not to love ths beautiful film!

A customer from London , 27/07/2008

What can I say? The other reviewers who have given this film 5 stars have given such excellent accounts I can't say anymore about the story itself. All I will say is that this film is sheer genius - a tremendous account of those terrible times when Fascism/Francoism had taken over Spain and once again how brutal individuals can unleash their evil on those who dare to thwart them. This was interwoven with the fantasies that truly allowed this little girl to get through her ordeal. Wonderful - please give it a veiwing.

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