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The Devil's Backbone
2001
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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The Devil's Backbone
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 | OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 43 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Horror, World Cinema |
| Language | Spanish |
| Subtitles | English |
| Released | DVD: 25 Mar 2002 Production year: 2001 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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Set near the end of the Spanish Civil War, this bone-chilling allegorical ghost story sees ten-year-old Carlos (Fernando Tielve) sent to a remote orphanage that is reputedly haunted by the ghost of a dead boy — “he who sighs”. There he uncovers a secret involving the sadistic young caretaker (Eduardo Noriega), who surely represents fascism in the film's vivid metaphor for the war. Mexican director Guillermo del Toro makes less overt use of his background in makeup effects — unlike his previous creepshows Cronos and Mimic — and instead relies on the power of suggestion and sound for the chilling, ever-present horror, as the fates of the orphans and their guardians become tragically inter-linked. Though the whodunnit takes a fairly predictable course, the Spanish Civil War background adds powerful narrative and symbolic weight, while the striking imagery — most notably, the presence of an unexploded bomb in the yard — is simply poetic. It's produced by Pedro Almodóvar's company, El Deseois
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"...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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Most helpful member's review
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39 out of 40 people found this review helpful
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; this is a ghost story, not a 'horror-flick'. There is minimal gore, though the finale is explosive and graphically violent. Suspense, unease and tension build slowly but surely and there are a number of scary encounters or near encounters along the way. The real 'horror' is in the actions, motivation and choices of the living. The sense of place and time is palpable (Spain, summer, the Civil War, the impovrished and isolated orphanage, the cool of the night and the dank creepy shadows of the cellar). This is simply a top-quality film that transcends genres.
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- Grimmy from Up North
- Posted 11 Jul 2007 12:04
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Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Spooky, but...
In truth, this wasn't quite what I expected it to be: whilst atmospheric, mildly chilling and very well made, I got the feeling Del Toro wasn't quite sure what genre he was addressing and was left a little disappointed, especially after reading the reviews on this page.
It comes across as a ghost story crossed with a Lord Of The Flies-esque social commentary, and while the various story strands do draw you in I felt some were left a little undercooked by the finale. The cast of young boys are fantastic, however, and the film's depiction of life in the orphanage whilst Spain is ravaged by civil war is beautifully done.
Perhaps I was expecting too much... -
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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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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 ... -