Iffy for 13+
Decent old-school ghost story, Spanish-style.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that even though the R-rating is too harsh, brief but grotesque visuals let us know the filmmakers could do worse if they wanted to. Disturbing imagery includes a mutilated victim of a car collision and a deformed kid with a skull-like face. A suicide attempt figures in the ending. There is a theme of infanticide and dead children. Nothing is shown, but we get news of children causing a playmate's death, then being killed (by poison) themselves. An HIV-positive character is part of the plot, and it's pretty much given as a death sentence.
- Families can talk about what parts of the movie are scariest, and does the (generally) non-gore approach work? Do you agree with Laura's choice at the end? How does this film stack up to other favorite movie ghost tales?
The good stuff
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Messages: Even the lonely ghosts turn out not to be "evil" (though they seem to be vengeful, and capable of causing harm). One, who is hideously deformed, turns out to be not as monstrous as his appearance. There is a sense of motherly heroics and parental sacrifice in the leading lady -- despite the mortal danger. Simon's maintenance troubles and restlessness as an adopted child might not set a positive tone in some foster households.
What to watch for
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Violence: An old woman fatally mutilated after being struck by a car (tearing her jaws open grotesquely). A character's fingers caught in a slamming door, causing a fingernail to come off. A bloody leg injury. There is a theme of infanticide and dead children. Nothing is shown, but we get news of children causing a playmate's death, then being killed (by poison) themselves.
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Sex: Not an issue
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Language: The F-word uttered once (in the Spanish-language, English-subtitled version).
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: An intentional drug overdose (not for recreational purposes).
Fan Reviews provided by
5
The Orphanage by Daydream
Another magnificently directed movie by Guillermo Del Toro. The Orphanage sets out as a well-written thriller that may be hard to see what direction the story is going, but the charcters leave the audience bread crumbs (or in this case sea shells) to always find your way back home. It was like a game of Clue or Hide and Seek that kept you guessing until the very end. The music is so eerie and chilling it sets the tone for the rest of the movie. I didnt know what I was getting myself into, but was very satisfied at the conclusion of the movie. Almost everything is great in this movie, from the music and the story to the costumes. Who doesnt find little children in raggedy clothes and creepy masks a little chilling? This is one of those foreign films worth seeing. I am planning on buying it when it comes out on dvd..
5
European poltergeist film that will keep your gut clenched and knukles white by Paul Varjak
First of all, please realize this is a foreign film! That means it will be smart, odd, and open for interpretation. Oh, and most importantly IT'S IN SUBTITLES!!!!!!!! I swear to god half the theatre walked out when they realized this bombshell. Good riddance! Mindless boobs. Now for the rest of you. This is SO much more than an american horror film. This is a daring, moving film that will stay with you long after you've left the theatre. The brilliance of most foreign films is that they don't tell you what to think. They don't always tell you, or force feed you exactly their interpretation of what happened in the film. You are free to think, to imagine, to open your mind. This film is all of that. I don't want to give anything away. This film is an experience in art. The writing, the acting, the directing, the score. It is harmonious in all accounts. I envy you for being able to experience it for the first time. This film is what movies dream of being.
5
OH MY GOD!!! I WON'T BE ABLE TO SLEEP TONIGHT!!! by jojackie
If you loved Pan's Labyrinth you'll love this as well, it's got that same interplay between what we think is reality and what we're not sure is real... and all the clues that come together at the end but still leave you contemplating what actually happened...I actually yelled out involuntarily twice during this film, "Oh my God!" and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Like his previous film, Guillermo Del Toro doesn't give us a happily ever after, but definitely gives us something to shake us up and really make us think! It was a flawless execution of a phenomenal script, acted to perfection by all involved, with kudos to the young Simon. If you're not a fan of sub-titles but are one of "The Shining", go see this film...you forget you?re ?reading? the film just minutes in, and open your movie-going world to such outstanding choices.
5
Great Movie for Horror Fans Looking For Something Different by aaronb23
This is certainly a must see movie for all horror fans that are tired of the same old predictable plot twists and technological devices that tell you you are going to die. First I have to say, that the movie is in Spanish with English subtitles. Nobody had mentioned that in any reviews I read so I was quite surprised but I'm very glad I stayed. The movie is erie from the beginning, really setting the tone from the start. Throughout the movie they have several "make you jump" scenes but what makes you jump doesn't always turn out to be "something scary". Sometimes just something ordinary you're not expecting can make you jump and they played that very well. But don't get me wrong, the "ghosts" will make you jump a few times as well. What really made this movie great was that it did have plot twists that were almost predictable but not quite The story line and the ending was also more realistic than other scary movies and not just totally far fetched supernatural. Go see it!
5
The Orphanage by 4321action
This is a truly welcomed ghost story. It is brilliantly written and wonderfuly portrayed. It is right up there with Pan's Labyrinth. And, there is none of that "attempted comedy and humor" that you often find in american ghost, thrillers and horror films.
This film will be certainly added to my collection.
It is a definite, must see movie.
5
All that you would expect from a scary movie...and so much more. by CatGoesToTheMovies
It has been a long time since a scary movie has been so deeply stunning...with such a gripping storyline, great nail biting suspense, and a stunning array of scene creation all the while. There are subtitles, yes, but not so distracting from the movie at all.
If you have a soft spot for ghost stories, if you enjoy the progression of a great suspenseful story, and if you love films that create each scene to a perfection of color, lighting, angles, emotion and character motif...then bring a friend to latch onto, a few tissues on the side, and go see this right away.
5
The Orphanage by Mickallen
The Orphanage is a gripping movie that walks a line between horror and tragedy with powerful results. It is not a gory film, with the exception of one scene that is truly startling, instead it relies on Hitchcockian tension. The result is a film that is truly "scary" in parts and emotionally devastating in others. It is a thinking person's horror film. Know going in that it is a Spanish film with English subtitles but don't let that deter you from seeing this eerie film that spins a great ghost story.
4
"FRIGHTNING AND MYSTERIOUS" by Jakk
Not a big fan of foreign films (those subtitles) I really enjoyed The Orphange.
The movie was just as interesting as it was scary. The way the whole movie was done you can almost get a sense of what the inside of the creepy house smelled like (you know that old antique wood smell). Watch real closely at all the little clues. I thought I had the answer but I found out I was wrong. The acting was also really good but the real star of the film was the house with all that quiet. Something about quiet really can bring out all the spookiness. The story was well told and not confusing. If you like movies like The Sixth Sense, The Others and Unbreakable with those surprise conclusions, you'll like The Orphange. It's not a movie for everyone though. It's a thinking person movie.
Maybe Hollywood could get a lesson from Spanish filmmakers on how to make good interesting movies. This is coming from a moviegoer who likes Terminator movies. I liked this movie.
4
creepy by mrbabco_delis
this movie actually got me to jump once & that doesn't happen often. it really creeped me out be the end & had a bizarre feel to it.
i would recomend it to anyone that loves a strange thriller movie and is smart enough to read sub-titles..LOL