The Devil's Backbone

I picked this film up for £5 on play, and enjoyed watching it. It moves at a slow pace, but it is so mesmerizing you are completely engrossed. The acting is good, as are the special effects. Not as scary as the tag lines lead you to believe, but chilling nonetheless. Recommended to fans of Guillermo Del Toro's more recent triumph Pan's Labyrinth.

After watching Pan's Labyrinth on DVD, I had been somewhat disappointed. Perhaps because every review I had read of it gave it 5 stars, and all my friends had said how amazing it was, I was a touch let down (although clearly it was still a very good movie).
This film however, tops Pan's Labyrinth for story, characterisation and scares (In my humble opinion at least). The story is a wonderfully tragic ghost tale about an orphanage in Spain during the civil war. Some similar themes to Pan's, but in a way I felt much more engaged with. The supernatural elements are simple, but effective, without huge displays of CGI they manage to be creepy and jumpy in all the right places.
Acting from all parties was of a very high standard, with some excellent performances from the child actors.
Well worth a look if you enjoyed Pan's or Cronos.

Probably like a few people, I've been slowly working my way through Del Toro's back catalogue on the back of Pan's Labyrinth. Cronos was a disappointment. Hell Boy was great fun. This film is excellent.

Like his other films, there are subtle sub plots running below the surface that give added life and meaning to the various characters. Great characters and story (and I thought the way the ghost was presented as a watery corpse was unique and original).

Truly great. Buy it, watch it, love it. Nuff said.

Del Toro's best film, the best in Spanish horror alot better paced than the orphanage and genuinely creepy. Its just a shame this didn't get the publicity that pan's labyrinth got . If you liked pan's see this and see where the hype began.