The Orphanage (L'Orfanato)
The Spaniards have certainly cornered the market lately in horror genre films.
The Orphanage was Spain’s official entry into the Best Foreign Language Category at this year’s Oscars, and premiered in Melbourne at the recent Spanish Film Festival.
It’s a drama, thriller, and ghost story rolled into a very impressive debut from director Antonio Bayona, co-produced by talented Mexican Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth).
It tells the story a woman who returns to live in the large old mansion in which she spent her early childhood. It is her intention to restore the ramshackle building and establish accommodation for the disabled. She is accompanied by her husband, a doctor, and their son, Simón, a sickly child, and somewhat of a loner, with a creative predisposition.
Laura is concerned about her son’s increasing dependence on his imaginary friends. But her concern escalates into terror when someone goes missing, and she realises that perhaps his friends aren’t as imaginary as she had previously thought.
What happens next? Well, you’ll have to discover it for yourself.
The Orphanage is not a schlock horror film, nor does it rely on stock effects for impact. It is a very stylish, atmospheric and intelligent film, featuring a great story that is dramatically rewarding and creepy enough to be suspenseful throughout.
I can’t wait to see what this director has in store for us next.