Back to the subtitles, this time on the 2007 Spanish film El Orfanato(The Orphanage). Strongly reminiscent of Guillermo Del Toro's Devil's Backbone(its ok, he helped bring The Orphanage to the screen and received a producer's credit for it), first time filmmakers Juan Bayona and Sergio Sanchez have created a smart, atmospheric film that bears only a slight resemblance to it's American and Japanese cousins. Don't get me wrong, I am actually a big fan of horror/thriller genre as practiced in the US(not as much Japan). This film, however, is a whole different experience. Less dependent on startling the audience. Utterly bereft of the the violence and gore that has become such a big part of the American horror experience.

Julia is mother and wife who moves her family into the spacious home where she once lived as an orphan. Soon after moving in, she becomes concerned that her son(who we learn early on is adopted but does not know it)is becoming more and more engrossed in playing with some imaginary playmates that he meets in the new home.

One rainy day Julia is enjoying a treasure hunt game that she believes her son, Simon, has invented. Simon, however, credits his "friends", saying that they play a game by taking whatever is most precious to you. They will leave a trail of clues and if you follow them to the end, you will not only retrieve your item but recieve a wish as well. The game ends badly when Simon finds his item in a locked drawer where Julia has hidden papers with information about Simon's adoption and his medical condition.

Not long after this, Simon disapears during a party at the home and before long, Julia begins to suspects that Simon's friends are not playing the game with her. Next time you run out of new releases, give this one a chance. The acting is first rate even if you do have to put up with subtitles.

Labels: Del Toro, The Orphanage