C_Merced
"Perfectly follows the horror movie formula with a great result"
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The Orphanage
A movie directed by Juan Antonio Bayona
It's only his first film, but Spain’s Juan Antonio Bayona has already figured out the secret to a successful supernatural thriller: emphasize character over special effects. Like Walter Salles'sDark Waterand Alejandro Amenábar'sThe … see full wiki
Cast:
Geraldine Chaplin,
Enric Arquimbau,
Carmen Lopez,
Fernando Cayo,
Belén Rueda,
Andres Gertrudix,
see all
Director:
Juan Antonio Bayona
Genre:
Sci-Fi,
Fantasy
Release Date:
December 28, 2007
MPAA Rating:
R
8 reviews about The Orphanage
Showing 1-8 of 8
**** out of **** We ask a lot out of the horror genre and the filmmakers involved, and often get nothing in return. Remakes are not what we want, and neither are meaningless exercises in violence and sadism. What we need more of is real fear; the kind that sends shivers up your spine. The kind that makes you think. The kind that makes you wait. The kind that people seem to have forgotten. Well, perhaps it is not right for me to say that EVERYONE has … more
Comments (2)
Compliments (24)
"When something terrible happens sometimes it leaves a trace...like an echo repeated over and over."
The old stone mansion that once was an orphanage sits isolated within its ill-kempt gardens and grounds. The abandoned lighthouse on the cliff not far away no longer shines a beacon. The cave below and the sandy beach still receive the incoming tide. Be wary. Laura Sanchez grew up in the orphanage. When she was about seven she was adopted and left. Now she is 37, married to Carlos, and they are parents to a little boy, Simon, about seven. They adopted Simon, who doesn't … more
Comments (1)
Compliments (12)
THE ORPHANAGE is the latest supernatural film from Spain which definitely has the feel of Guillermo del Toro's influence. Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, based on the screenplay by Sergio Sanchez; the film is an enchanting, creative gothic horror film that follows the footsteps of "The Devil's Backbone", "Pan's Labyrinth" and "The Others". Much like the aforementioned films, "The Orphanage" has a theme to it, it is not a fast-paced horror thriller with the … more
Comments (10)
Compliments (55)
The Orphanage (El Orphanato) - the feature film debut from Spanish director J.A. Bayona - is, in essence, an old-fashioned haunted house movie, dripping with atmosphere and wonderfully unsettling. The film tells the story of a woman who purchases and moves into an old orphanage where she was raised. Soon, secrets of the past begin to surface and a mystery unfolds that threatens the safety of her own son. This superbly crafted film kept me gripped right up until its disturbing … more
Comments (11)
Compliments (33)
Guillermo del Toro got behind this movie for good reason. It witfully dances around the unknown, then leads you down a gnarly path twist by twist. Very well done, and look forward to watching it again.
Comment
Compliments (7)
Pros: Acting, plot, pacing, art direction, cinematography Cons: Some of the imagery is heavy handed and only a little heavy handed The Bottom Line: The Orphanage takes the tools of a scary movie and makes it something exciting and beautiful to watch. I can't think of someone I would advise against seeing it. Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie''s plot. How do you make … more
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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 … more
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review by C_Merced.
May 10, 2008
Excellent Spanish gothic film by first time director Juan Antonia Bayona that feels like and Edgar Allan Poe poem. Along the lines of "The Devil's Backbone (Special Edition), and The Others (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) this Spanish film proves to be a great haunting movie. Creepy in all the right places. Suspense builds throughout the movie at a perfect pace; this is basically the perfect formula film. First off, the acting is phenomenal. Every single actor, especially Belén Rueda, delivers an … more
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