The Devil’s Backbone – Movie Review
First Reaction – The Devil’s Backbone is a brilliant, outstanding and chilling horror movie.
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writer: Guillermo del Toro, Antonio Trashorras, David Munoz (Screenplay)
Cast
- Marisa Paredes (The Skin I Live In)
- Eduardo Noriega (Vantage Point)
- Federico Luppi (Pan’s Labyinth)
- Fernando Tielve (Goya’s Ghost)
- Inigo Garces
Plot: After Carlos – a 12-year-old whose father has died in the Spanish Civil War – arrives at an ominous boys’ orphanage, he discovers the school is haunted and has many dark secrets which he must uncover.
Runtime: 1 Hour 46 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Devil’s Backbone starts when Carlos (Tielve) gets left at an orphanage during the Spanish Civil War. Carmen (Paredes) and Dr Casares (Luppi) run the orphanage, while bullies look to make his time difficult. As Carlos adapt to his new surroundings he meets a ghostly figure.
However, once Carlos begins investigating the history of the orphanage, he discovers the ghost’s identity, Santi. Carlos must uncover the truth before it is too late, as the residents of the orphanage continue living a normal life.
Verdict on The Devil’s Backbone
Recap
The movie follows a young boy left at an orphanage during the Spanish Civil War. He overcomes problems while finding his feet again before meeting spirit walking the hallways. The orphans must work together to uncover the truth, which brings a disturbing truth to light.
Best Parts
When it comes to horrors, I have always loved the ones where a ghost guides somebody to answers. This is a perfect example of how they work using the innocence of the orphans in a conflict zone. It shows a darker secret which haunts them and a danger they can’t prepare for in war. This balances horror from ghosts and war perfectly to leave us with one of the most chilling movies of all time. The performances add to everything, where the whole cast is outstanding throughout the movie.
Final Thoughts –The Devil’s Backbone is a brilliant, chilling masterpiece in horror.
