-Quiero decir una ingeniosa cita, pero no puede pensar en algo por lo que espero que nadie se traduce esto.
*WARNING MAY EVENTUALLY CONTAIN SPOILERS IN DISCUSSION * - I will post preliminary spoiler warnings for movies that I feel will have a good chance of being spoiled once people discuss about the movie.
Summary- Laura takes her husband and son, Simón back to her old abandoned orphanage in hopes of reopening it for disabled children. However when she gets there strange things begin to happen. The trouble escalates when Simón disappears and she begins seeing a mysterious young boy wearing a sack mask. In order to find her son Laura has to discover the horrors of the secrets lying behind the history of the orphanage.
Review- This is another amazing foreign film, this time coming from Spain. There are two movies that the Orphanage reminds me of- The Sixth Sense and The Shining (both amazing horrors in their own right). The reason is that it’s not a scary movie in that it relies on cheap gimmicks like random monsters/serial killers/ghosts popping out to surprise you. I mean there are those parts (and boy they are good), but what is truly scary is established by the great acting, and the wonderful atmosphere. Watching the movie will give you an eerie vibe laced with suspense. I’m not a big fan of horror, but I can’t find fault with this movie. I have to emphasize again, the acting is superb, the pacing is wonderful, the mood of the film is seriously creepy, and best of all, the story is absolutely amazing. I feel the end is simply mind-blowing and brings a new twist to supernatural movies. Yes the movie is in Spanish and requires subtitles, but sometimes foreigners come up with the best stuff. Also like, Let the Right One In, I think an American remake is in the works, but it would be a shame to miss this gem because, well let me quote the director because he puts it much more eloquently than I can: "The Americans have all the money in the world but can't do anything, while we can do whatever we want but don't have the money" and "The American industry doesn't take chances, that's why they make remakes of movies that were already big hits" - Juan Antonio Bayona, Director of Orphanage. In other words, American remakes usually are worse because Hollywood hates to take risks, but some movies like the Orphanage succeed because it is novel, it is fresh, it is a risk that has succeeded.
Recommendations- Recommended movies may not share similar story elements or movie techniques with the reviewed movies. They are simply personal opinions that I think will give a good indication on if you will enjoy the reviewed movie. If you want to add or want me to remove a recommendation, please reply below with the movie name and reason.
The Sixth Sense
Let the Right One In
Pan's Labyrinth
The Shining
). But seriously doesn't anyone else think these pictures are just extremely freaky?
) definitely pick this one up if you haven't seen it.
