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With
the addition of The Orphanage, Spain is quickly making a
name for itself as the new masters of horror.
The film is produced by celebrated filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro
(who directed The Devils Backbone and Pans
Labyrinth), and is directed by long time short film and
music video director Juan Antonio Bayona. As expected, The Orphanage
benefits from Banoya's keen visual eye, as it is filled with strong
imagery.
But along with being a visceral treat, the film also contains quite
an aural impact due to its excellent sound effects. Put together,
a chilling experience is had.
The plot of the film concerns a former orphan named Laura (Belen
Rueda), who has purchased her old orphanage and renovated it in
hopes of opening its doors again as a home for children with special
needs.
She moves into the building along with her psychiatrist husband
Carlos (Fernando Cayo), and their adopted son Simon (Roger Princep),
a highly imaginative young boy who is also HIV positive.
When Simon disappears without a trace, Laura believes that the spirit
of a deformed orphan accidentally killed years ago is extracting
revenge for his death.
This in turn sets up one of the main themes of the movie, as Laura's
belief in the paranormal clashes with her psychiatrist husband's
scepticism.
This is the best ghost story since 2001's The Others
(which, ironically, was directed by Spaniard Alejandro Amenabar).
The plot is meticulously paced, as tension reaches breaking point
and creates some genuine scares. This is especially felt during
a frightening sequence where a spiritual medium channels the ghosts
within the house, who are the scariest brats seen in a horror film
since The Shining.
Hopefully, the style of Spanish filmmakers will rub off on the torture
porn infested dregs which clog up the Hollywood back lot. Here is
a horror film all about creating thrills, and less about vomit inducing
gore (although a shocking gore moment does occur, which works spectacularly
well due to the great work by the films make up effects team).
An anti-Hollywood ending pulls no punches and ends the film on a
sad yet heart warming note, such is the power of the films material.
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