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Orphanage, The (aka El Orfanato)Backed by Guillermo del Toro and yet made by a surprisingly inexperienced group of film makers (especially considering the end result), The Orphanage is a chilling, tense supernatural thriller that could certainly teach more established directors a thing or two about how to send shivers down the spine.
It tells the story of a woman, Laura, returning to the orphanage where she was raised as a child. Her plans are to look after sick children there, but it doesn't take long for things to go awry. Without giving too much away, visions from her past and a threat to her own family are the starting points for a complex and quite haunting thriller, that stays in the mind long after the credits have rolled. A film that works on more than one level, The Orphanage really is some piece of work. Juan Antonia Bayona, behind the camera, generates an incredibly atmospheric mood that underpins the film, and wisely takes time to put pieces in place. He's aided by a terrific cast, and an unsettling screenplay that layers in an uneasy horror that's as anti-Hollywood as it comes. The result of all of this is one of the scariest films of recent times, and yet something that still manages to be that little bit more, that sticks in your mind for some time afterwards. Make no mistake, The Orphanage really is something different, and all the better for it. --Jon Foster |
Average User Rating: 80% (40 Reviews) | |
| 4 / 5 | THIS MOVIE IS NOT A HORROR
Broken butterfly "broken butterfly" (uk) - 29 July 2008 This is one of the most beautiful artistic movies I have ever seen. Believe me however when I say it is not a horror. NOT a horror. Many adverts and reviews I have seen implied that the movie itself was scary, relentless and beautifully shot. The latter is true. The rest is not. At a push this is a beautiful fairy tale. With an emotional climax. I recomend it fully. PLEASE DO NOT LET THE FACT IT IS A SUBTITLED MOVIE PUT YOU OFF. WORTH A WATCH X... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | Film of 2008
S. Chapman (York UK) - 27 May 2008 Having seen The Orphanage in the cinema, I cannot wait to see it again on DVD. On the surface it is a horror/haunted house film, but for me it felt that the film was really about a mother's determination and love for her child. It is an atmospheric piece, with some genuinely scary moments, such that at some points i was hiding behind my hands in a packed cinema! But what really got under my skin was not the classic scary shocks (which are handled brilliantly) but the ever increasing tension and desperation of the search for a lost child. With a jaw-dropping and emotional conclusion that left me stunned in silence for about an hour after the film ended, this is easily the film of 2008. I have heard that the Americans are doing their own version of this film. Believe me when I say Hollywood will not do this film justice - watch this for a truly magnificant experience. ... Read Full Review » |
| 3 / 5 | Good, but not a big chiller
MYSTICSHAZ (UK) - 29 July 2008 I'd been looking forward to seeing this film for some time as it was billed as the most chilling ghost story since 'The Others', which is one of my all-time favourite films. It is certainly extremely atmospheric and the performances are excellent - especially Belen Rueda as Laura and Geraldine Chaplin who plays the medium and although the ending wasn't a great surprise (not as much of a twist as I expected and I think most viewers will probably see it coming), all in all I enjoyed the whole experience and would still recommend it.... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | The Orphanage: The Afternoon After The Night Before
O. Brann (London) - 30 June 2008 The Orphanage...I don't want to talk about it. But then, I do. It's all I want to talk about. It's the afternoon of what should be a brand new day. But last night... Do you ever leave somewhere like that? I'm suspended between a now thinning world and the visceral, enveloping phantom of that film; it's unapologetically classic imagery floats just behind my eyes, summoning the fear of a thousand ghost stories. Fear I thought I'd forgotten, childhood fear, supernatural fear, the kind no parent can protect you from. Protection. The dynamics and the limits of the parent/child protective relationship are explored and laid bare here by terrifying means. This core of human drama seamlessly joins with the supernatural to create a dense, rich whole that just leaves you reeling. I got drunk last night after The Orphanage. It was partly to do with the trauma and the persistent miasma that followed me from that movie theatre, but mostly it was because I was thrilled and despite it all, happy - the happiness you feel when you've just experienced something that's been totally realised. Steel yourself. Walk through those theatre doors. And witness the unveiling of a splendid, terrible, masterpiece.... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | Excellent Thriller from the Spanish Team
Jenny J.J.I. "A New Yorker" (That Lives in Northern Nevada) - 8 October 2008 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 » |
RRP
£24.99
Release Date
21 July 2008
Price Range
£5.99 - £24.99