During the Spanish Civil War, newly orphaned Carlos (Fernando Tielve) is taken to a school for the children of those who died fighting against fascism. He is given the bed that formerly belonged to Santi, a boy who recently died during an attack in which a bomb dropped, landing in the school's courtyard undetonated--a constant .. Read more
| Starring | Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, Frederico Luppi, Inigo Garces |
|---|---|
| Director | Guillermo del Toro |
| Genres | Horror, World Cinema |
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During the Spanish Civil War, newly orphaned Carlos (Fernando Tielve) is taken to a school for the children of those who died fighting against fascism. He is given the bed that formerly belonged to Santi, a boy who recently died during an attack in which a bomb dropped, landing in the school's courtyard undetonated--a constant reminder of impending danger. As the amputee headmistress (Marisa Paredes, ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER) and the embittered caretaker Jacinto (Eduardo Noriega) engage in a love affair, the headmistress' cuckolded lover--the impotent but benevolent school doctor (Frederico Luppi)--sits by passively. After Santi's ghost repeatedly reveals itself to Carlos, another student spooks him with a dark secret about the boy's death. War surrounds the school, violence infests it from within, and Carlos sets out to avenge the death of Santi.
Taking on themes such as the brutality of war and the loss of innocence, Guillermo del Toro's (MIMIC) film skillfully combines elements of war, gothic horror, melodrama, and adventure to create a work that functions as both a genre film and a politically resonant piece of nostalgia. THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE uses history as a means of transforming what would otherwise be a routine ghost story into a powerful and affecting statement.
| Starring | Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, Frederico Luppi, Inigo Garces |
|---|---|
| Director | Guillermo del Toro |
| Studio | ELEVATION |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 43 mins Blu-ray: 1 hr 43 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Collections | FILMCLUB Recommends... |
| Genres | Horror, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: Spanish Blu-ray: Spanish |
| Subtitles | DVD: English Blu-ray: English |
| Released | Production year: 2001 To Rent: DVD: 25 Mar 2002 Blu-ray: 25 Oct 2010 |
"...Throughout, Del Toro has composed vivid and riveting images that he has combined with an engrossing story, and the impressive performances of the entire cast keep DEVIL'S BACKBONE unabatingly compelling..."
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Gorgeous and memorable
Beautifuly shot and composed, with many filmic references (from The Searchers to The Shining), a very talented cast, unobtrusive but effective special effects; ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
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great story
i thought this film was very good for little kids the acting was really good for them, maybe they could teach the adults in this film how to act.
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Worth watching
Another good film from Guillermo del Toro, great story line. As long as you don't mind subtitles this is well worth watching, unfortunately the copy I ... read more »
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A film really worth watching.
A very good well made horror film , and a really good story. The acting is very good from everyone in it. Its an orphanage in the middle of nowhere for children... read more »
Some things never change, like the scary properties of an old dark house and things that go bump in the night. American horror seems transfixed by graphic sadism right now, but the acclaimed Spanish chiller "El Orfanato" harks back to an older tradition of psychological scares epitomized by classics like The Innocents, The Haunting, and Cat People. First-time director Juan Antonio Bayona and screenwriter Sergio G Sanchez make it as a point of honor to take classic horror movie talismans - dark Read more
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