Movie Review - The Orphanage (El Orfanato)

Adorned with the titled card, "Guillermo del Toro Present's", this fantastically creepy tale of love and horror tends to be mistaken for a new movie from the brilliant director of Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth. The Orphanage, however, is the feature film debut of Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona; but then again, you would never know it.  From the moment it begins, the film has the feel of a chilling work done by those who have mastered the genre.  In a day an age where horror is defined by how many loud noises and jump thrills you can put on the screen, Bayona reverts to the timeless tactic of building tension so thick you can cut it with a knife.  The story is simple, a fact which leads to its success as a true thriller.  Laura (played by the wonderful Belen Rueda), her husband Carlos and son Simon have moved into the childhood orphanage that Laura once resided in as a child.  Their plan is to house special children while living a quite life on the coast.  These plans, however, run into a hitch as their son Simon's apparent wild imagination shockingly becomes something more.  The way that Bayona portrays this simple family's relationship is truly what ties this film together. Strong performances from the three leads certainly don't hurt either, as they truly make you feel for this family and their struggles.  As the film progresses, the feeling that something bad is beginning to happen takes over and consumes every moment of the viewing experience.  This idea is terrifying in its own right, but when Bayona decides to turn on the scares... well that is when the real horror begins.  For a first time director, Bayona really seems to have hit the nail on the head with this.  An instant classic, The Orphanage will soon find its place amongst classics such as The Birds, Poltergeist, and The Sixth Sense.  Hopefully the talent that Juan Antonio Bayona has displayed will not be wasted on cheap horror remakes and other such nonsense, so that he may further provide us with refreshingly beautiful filmmaking in the years to come

The Orphanage (El Orfanato)

* * * and a half

Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona