Scan and Pan
Friday, February 01, 2008
El Orfanato (The Orphanage)
Laura (Belén Rueda), Carlos (Fernando Cayo), and their son Simón (Roger Príncep) move into an old house that used to be an orphanage, the same orphanage where Laura lived as a child until a family adopted her. Soon, strange things begin to happen, and then Simón disappears. How far will Laura go to find her son?
Spanish music video director J.A. Bayona makes his feature film debut with a well-crafted exercise in horror that's as atmospheric as it is poignant. The careful use of camera and lighting by Bayona and cinematographer Óscar Faura evokes a mood of impending doom that slowly creeps up on you as if on tiptoes, never settling for cheap scares. It winds its way along its chosen path to a conclusion that's at once beautiful and moving.
The screenplay by Sergio G. Sánchez is a smart take on a very old kind of story, and I think it does a particularly good job of exploring the fragile psyche of Laura as she searches for Simón. There's an ambiguity to the story that allows it to be interpreted on different levels, reminding me of Hideo Nakata's Honogurai Mizu No Soko Kara as well as del Toro's own films.
No ghost story is complete without a creepy old house, and production designer Josep Rosell (Juana la Loca) graces the film with one that really does seem laden with the spirits of the past. The understated score by Fernando Velázquez (Savage Grace) is an integral part of the film's atmosphere.
Rueda is compelling as Laura, her subtle performance making what her character experiences all the more believable. It's her portrayal that seals the deal for the audience. Príncep is also quite good as a lonely boy whose imaginary playmates may not be so imaginary. Cayo is a little flat as Carlos, but still adequate for the role. The rest of the solid cast includes Geraldine Chaplin in a creepy turn as a medium, Mabel Rivera as a skeptical police psychologist, Montserrat Carulla as a woman who claims to be a social worker concerned with Simón's case, and Edgar Vivar as an expert on the paranormal.
El Orfanato (The Orphanage) is a nicely done horror film that relies on imagination and mood to generate scares. It's a breath of fresh air in an American market dominated by unimaginative remakes. Sadly, this film is itself slated for a US remake. Do yourself a favor and see the original.
[4 out of 5 stars]
Executive producer Guillermo del Toro (The Devil's Backbone, Pan's Labyrinth) presents a good old fashioned ghost story that hits all the right buttons for sending chills down the collective spine of an audience.
Laura (Belén Rueda), Carlos (Fernando Cayo), and their son Simón (Roger Príncep) move into an old house that used to be an orphanage, the same orphanage where Laura lived as a child until a family adopted her. Soon, strange things begin to happen, and then Simón disappears. How far will Laura go to find her son?
Spanish music video director J.A. Bayona makes his feature film debut with a well-crafted exercise in horror that's as atmospheric as it is poignant. The careful use of camera and lighting by Bayona and cinematographer Óscar Faura evokes a mood of impending doom that slowly creeps up on you as if on tiptoes, never settling for cheap scares. It winds its way along its chosen path to a conclusion that's at once beautiful and moving.
The screenplay by Sergio G. Sánchez is a smart take on a very old kind of story, and I think it does a particularly good job of exploring the fragile psyche of Laura as she searches for Simón. There's an ambiguity to the story that allows it to be interpreted on different levels, reminding me of Hideo Nakata's Honogurai Mizu No Soko Kara as well as del Toro's own films.
No ghost story is complete without a creepy old house, and production designer Josep Rosell (Juana la Loca) graces the film with one that really does seem laden with the spirits of the past. The understated score by Fernando Velázquez (Savage Grace) is an integral part of the film's atmosphere.
Rueda is compelling as Laura, her subtle performance making what her character experiences all the more believable. It's her portrayal that seals the deal for the audience. Príncep is also quite good as a lonely boy whose imaginary playmates may not be so imaginary. Cayo is a little flat as Carlos, but still adequate for the role. The rest of the solid cast includes Geraldine Chaplin in a creepy turn as a medium, Mabel Rivera as a skeptical police psychologist, Montserrat Carulla as a woman who claims to be a social worker concerned with Simón's case, and Edgar Vivar as an expert on the paranormal.
El Orfanato (The Orphanage) is a nicely done horror film that relies on imagination and mood to generate scares. It's a breath of fresh air in an American market dominated by unimaginative remakes. Sadly, this film is itself slated for a US remake. Do yourself a favor and see the original.
[4 out of 5 stars]
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