"Espinazo del Diablo"

[orangerful]

Just finished watching 'The Devil's Backbone', one of Guillermo Del Toro's earlier films. I was surprised by the themes that this movie shared with 'Pan's Labyrnth'. Spanish civil war, a child trying to survive in their own little world, adults doing their own thing, a bit of the supernatural...it was almost a test run for 'Pan'.

Little Carlos is brought to an orphanage for boys whose parents are out fighting the Spanish civil war. Being the new kid, he's immediately picked on by the local bully and set up to get into trouble with the adults. But when he is sent out to get water late one night, he runs into the ghost of one of the missing boys...

The movie was definately creepy, though a teensy bit predictable as far as who the killer was. If they had made the character of the killer nicer in the beginning (at least, to Carlos) I might not have suspected him right away. But, like 'Pan', the supernatural bit was really only a way to discuss deeper emotions. The movie starts out asking "what is a ghost?" There are many "ghosts" in this movie - the actual spooky dead kid walking around, the "ghost" of the bomb that sit in the front yard, the "phantom limb" of the woman who runs the orphanage, the "ghost" of her husband that keeps her from moving on, the "ghost" of all the boys parents who won't be coming back for them...

I don't want to say too much more, in case I give anything away. It's definately an enjoyable movie, and if you liked 'Pan', this would be a good rental to keep you occupied while we wait for the DVD release date. :)

Comments

[meronica-vars.livejournal.com]

Wow noting the name of this so I can try and track it down. Pan's rocked my world. I actually ended up having to download it because I searched all the cinemas in Australia (ok.. the cinemas near me..) for it and couldn't find it, something I'm totally bummed about because I reckon it would have looked awesomes on the big screen. I'm so glad it cleaned up so many awards at the oscars. Totally deserving

[impalalove]

Oh, it's definitely sounds interesting. I definitely want to rent it already.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

we definately lucked out that one of the local theaters got 'Pan'. Usually for a movie like that we have to drive into the city. It took my brain a long time to process the film - I went from sort of liking it to trying to figure out when the DVD comes out! haha.

This one is definately worth seeing if you like 'Pan'. I don't think it's as good, but it will fill the void. :)