 |
I was unaware this was a spanish only movie..bit of a pain to read the subtitles, but it in no way interfered with watching the film..Movie begins with a young Couple and their Son waiting to open a care facility for handicapped children..their new home a old Orphanage where the Mother grew up..having been adopted she left before horrible happening engulfed the small inhabitants..the mystery behind the errie happenings will leave you awestruck..no scares here just old fashion nail biting suspense..this movie does have it's gory moments and the hanky scenes will break your heart..I give this movie 4 out of 5 bars..minus one for it being in spanish only!!
The Orphanage (El Orfanato) is another superb example of Guillermo Del Toro's ability to give his audience a riveting drama in a dark fantasy setting.The Orphanage is a disturbing tale of a woman, along with her husband and their adopted son, who returns to the building which housed a orphanage(now defunct) that she was raised in as a child. She plans to reinstate the orphanage in order to give children without parents the chance they deserve at a happy childhood. Little does she know that a spectral terror resides within the building and has taken a interest in her son.Though the film is a bit slow in the beginning(a common problem with many horror films) it eventually picks up to a stirring experience and some of the most tense moments in movie history. This film is a pearl in the murky and inconsistent sea of horror movies and the suprise ending will leave you pondering over the film for days after. Four out of five stars!Read full review
I was looking for a scary movie with a story line that tested the mind instead of just being full of gratuitous gore. The director, Guillermo del Toro, is highly acclaimed (see the movie Pan's Labyrinth for a good example of what this director can put out there) and this movie does not disappoint despite being in Spanish with subtitles. It all flowed together easily and held my attention to the unexpected conclusion. The scenery was hauntingly beautiful, the action moved along with no slack. I would say the casting of supporting characters was well done and the leading lady was extremely attractive and very talented in my humble opinion and well cast for the part. This was a great production, spellbinding, tense and shocking at certain junctures. The climax was both heartbreaking and reaffirming for what I'd call an unusually well done paranormal mystery/thriller.Read full review
The Orphanage, does bring sophistication in ghost stories which is rarely heard of, but Guillermo Del Toro manages to pull it off time and time again, and somehow he even managed to inject his magic into this one, which he only produced - as this very much plays out like one of his own films. Not to discredit Mr. Bayona, though, for he has done a fine job. This is a dark, powerful, and moving masterpiece that both adheres to convention and brings some new, more artistic elements to the table in the direction and storytelling. There was nothing about this film I didn't like. The acting, the thrills, the cinematography, the story, and the atmosphere. Everything was not short of sheer brilliance. The chilling moments freaked me out a couple of times, which I'm glad they did. That was what I wanted out of this film, but I was offered so much in return. Since I knew Guillermo Del Toro was involved with this project, I had a feeling it would be good. I just didn't think it would be THIS good. It was also very heart-warming, which was something I did not expect. The acting is great, Belen Rueda as Laura is magnificent. Fernando Cayo as the husband Carlos is also good; he looks like a Spanish version of Josh Lucas. The kids do a decent job. And seeing Geraldine Chaplin (Charlie Chaplin's daughter) was a surprise, and she delivered an excellent performance as the 'seeing' medium. The bond that Laura, Simon, and Carlos shared is very sensitive and is carried out well throughout the movie. This is definitely one of those horror films you should see more than once. The horror films you see nowadays are weak, not scary, and most of all; not worth your time. This one is WORTH the time. Believe me, his film has absolutely everything you need to know on how to make a well-executed ghost story and more.Read full review
We bought this movie after a friend of my son recommended it, and I'm so glad we did! I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of the horror genre, but this movie is something special and I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. And that's not just because of the subtitles! The fact that the language was Spanish, (which unfortunately I cannot speak) was the only downside, but I got so caught up in the movie that I almost forgot about them. The characters were very compelling, even in another language you could feel the emotions. In some ways it reminded me of the Sixth Sense, not because of the plot line, but because of the intelligence of the script, the quality of the acting and the way the clues are there, if you could only see them. I would highly recommend this movie for anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller.Read full review
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
