Warner Bros Pictures de Espana/Grupo Rodar
Released January 11, 2008
The Orphanage is one of those movies I really had not heard too much about. In fact, I only saw one commercial for the movie and already wanted to run out and see it. They pretty much had me at "from the guy's that brought you Pan's Labyrinth." I know I'm an impulse viewer, but with that kind of endorsement, who could blame me?
The Orphanage is a psychological thriller that centers around Laura (Belen Rueda) -- a woman who buys the very orphanage she spent her childhood in. Her plan is to turn it into a sanctuary for mentally handicapped children with her husband and their son Simon (Roger Princep). Soon after they move in, odd incidents begin occurring that all seem to stem from Simon's imaginary friends who also inhabit their new home. And if you want to know what else happens, you'll just have to go and see it because that's all I'm going to tell you of the story.
The brilliance of this film is it's ability to play upon your imagination. Most of the fear that the audience derives is based more upon their anticipation and interpretation of what is happening in the home than any visual images of horror on the screen (although there are plenty of visuals as well). With great acting from Rueda and Princep combined with a terrific musical score, this cinematic goal is magnificently accomplished.
While this movie may not have the incredible imagery that Pan's Labyrinth had, it still has that great storytelling that grabs the viewer and stirs them, mercilessly, until the very end. Truly a treat for moviegoers that like to draw their own conclusions and not have the story completely laid out in front of them.
(A side note, if you enjoyed this movie and want to see another Spanish film just as creepy and well done, check out The Devil's Backbone. )
3.5 out of 4
(Review by CMill)
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