When a child mysteriously vanishes, his mother begins to consider the possibility that spirits are haunting their home, a renovated orphanage.
HORROR
|
The Orphanage (2007)Directed by J.A. Bayona
Written by Sergio G. Sánchez Starring Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep, Mabel Rivera, Montserrat Carulla, Geraldine Chaplin |
I knew this was going to be creepy, but I had no idea it was also very poignant. The Orphanage is a gem that does not get talked about enough, and I think it's partly due to the fact that it's in Spanish and most Americans don't like subtitles. The rest of the world has so much to offer when it comes to cinema, and I'm glad I don't care what language a film is in so long as it's a good film. But I digress. The Orphanage is a ghost movie, and also a film about loss. The ending, which I won't spoil here, is one of the greatest rug-pulls I've ever experienced in a horror movie and will absolutely shock you to your core. But first, the rest of the film.
Laura (Rueda) grew up in an orphanage, was one day adopted, and later bought the orphanage as an adult to create a safe place for abandoned children. Her son Simón (Príncep) is also adopted, and finds out in the worst way. Soon after, he vanishes without a trace, and Laura and her husband find no leads for nine months. Then, they contact a medium who claims the orphanage is haunted by the ghosts of five children who were killed there, which is a separate wild story I won't spoil here. In the end, Laura learns the truth and it's absolutely devastating. The Orphanage may not be as scary as I anticipated, but it makes up for it in character development and story. The performances are all fantastic, and J.A. Bayona provides a frightening atmosphere. The whole "hide and seek" thing, for instance, is very creepy. Overall, I enjoyed the film and I will continue thinking about that ballsy and unforgettable finale. |