The Orphanage (Orfanato, El )
100 minutes
Spanish with English subtitles
Limited Release (currently)
Rated R
Takes place in Spain, begins with a girl (Laura) playing outside with several other children at an orphanage. Thirty years later, that woman is living in the former orphanage with her husband (Carlos) and an adopted boy (Simon). They adopted the child as an infant, knowing he has a life threatening illness. He has a wild imagination and loves playing games, gradually his antics become more annoying. Soon as the Laura starts to realize how real and haunting these games actually are, the boy disappears. Fliers are posted all over Spain, but he has vanished without a trace. This is where the story takes off, and the parents employ a less orthodox approach in the search for their son.
Guillermo del Toro produces another fine movie, quite easily on par with his earlier film, Pan's Labyrinth. We should look forward to many more quality films from this director. The color, soundtrack, and essentially, the overall ambiance of the film, make for one genuinely frightening movie. Not one moment of wasted celluloid, every character and scene had its place within the story. Unlike most suspense films, this one had a satisfying ending, but enough of The Orphanage is kept a mystery to leave the viewer with their imagination intact.
Final Verdict: 94 out of a possible 100
Sidenote: My reviews are based in the context of their respective genre.
Look foward to a review of First Sunday next week