The Devils Backbone Forum

The Devils Backbone

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I recently sat down to watch this film today, and I am now here to tell you all, that it is one not to miss. Directed by Guillermo Del Toro (who directed Blade 2 as well), The Devil's Backbone is the story of a young boy named Carlos who is sent to live in an orphanage during the Spanish Civil War. While there, Carlos is forced to adapt to the life of an orphan, and survive numerous encounters with the bully Jaime. As Carlos begins to gain acceptance from the other boys, he bares witness to many things; from the secret relationships between the grounds keeper and the young schoolteacher, to the wise teachings of the old doctor. All seems some-what normal until Carlos begins to see a ghost, referred to as "the one who sighs" by the other orphans. A dark and terrifying story begins to unfold, as Carlos tries to make contact with the lost soul. This movie will remind many of you of last year's The Others, but it is quite different from the Nicole Kidman movie. First of all, as a warning, this movie is in Spanish. So unless you speak the language fluently, you better be ready to do some reading (subtitles are all you have to help you with understanding the film). Secondly, there is only one ghost, and there's not a big twist at the end as there was with the aforementioned film. For those of you that are basing your ideas of typical Spanish entertainment off of the ridiculous stuff you see on TV, you will be greatly surprised. There are no grown men in bee-suits or adults acting like kids. Sadly there are also no large-breasted women in tiny outfits either, but that is not the point. The Devil's Backbone offers a sentimental and creepy tale much like that of Stand By Me, just with a ghost. As far as actual thrills go, there are some moments that make you jump, or at least squirm. The story and acting are all solid, and the film is a great choice for anyone looking to broaden their horizons. After seeing Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, I made a point of trying to see more foreign films, and The Devil's Backbone is another excellent example. I give it a 4.

>>By Led Gopher (Wednesday, 27 Aug 2003 06:43)

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