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Product Description
A woman brings her family back to her childhood home where she opens an orphanage for handicapped children. Before long her son starts to communicate with an invisible new friend. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 09/30/2008 Run time: 105 minutes Rating: R Director: Juan Antonio Bayona

Amazon.com
It's only his first film, but Spain's Juan Antonio Bayona has already figured out the secret to a successful supernatural thriller: emphasize character over special effects. Like Walter Salles's Dark Water and Alejandro Amenabar's The Others, The Orphanage pivots on a pretty woman and an unusual child. When her old orphanage goes on the market, Laura (Belen Rueda, Amenabar's The Sea Inside) and Carlos (Fernando Cayo) settle in with their son, Simon (Roger Princep). Once acclimated to the remote seaside surroundings, they plan to re-open it as a home for special-needs children. Meanwhile, their seven-year-old doesn't know he's adopted or that he has a life-threatening illness. He does, however, have a lot of imaginary playmates. When Simon disappears without a trace, his parents contact the police, but to no avail. Because Laura has been hearing odd noises and having strange visions, they proceed to consult a medium. Aurora (Geraldine Chaplin, speaking perfect Spanish) is convinced they aren't alone. Carlos has his doubts, but Laura makes like a detective and revisits her childhood--through photographs, home movies, and exploration of the spooky stone manor--to determine who or what abducted her son. Produced and presented by Guillermo Del Toro, The Orphanage is less fanciful than his works, though it does bear a vague resemblance to the ghostly Devil's Backbone. There are a few gory make-up effects, but Bayona mostly preys on our fear of the unknown to craft a first-rate fright fest. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews: Read 126 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

On the shoulders of giants. January 11, 2008
64 out of 81 found this review helpful

I'm 23 years old and have been an avid horror fan for about ten years now. And I'm here to say, for those interested, that this is the scarriest film I have ever seen in the theatres. Growing up in small town USA, I didn't get a lot of opportunities to see re-screenings of films like The Exorcist and The Shining on the big screen and I don't know how they would have benefitted from a first time big-screen viewing. For that reason I'm reluctant to immediately pin the blue ribbon on The Orphanage. That said, as someone who did see The Blair Witch Project, The Sixth Sense, The Ring, Dark Waters, Saw, Hostel, The Hills Have Eyes and most of the other films that are considered modern classics on the big screen-- This tops them all. More than that though, I feel like the director uses every film prior to this one as a stepladded-- standing on the shoulders of giants as it were. He uses many of the traditional scares that we've come to expect. For instance, how many times have we seen someone looking at the camera who is then hit out of the blue by a car? A simple scare. An easy one. Not very creative and not hard to pull off. But SOMEHOW, and I haven't figured this one out yet, The Orphanage just does it better. The dead person who suddenly sits up and grabs your wrist, the door that slams shut-- all of them. You'll see them coming, you'll expect it, you'll tell yourself not to jump, but then you will anyway. I credit this to the direction and the music which are both stellar.

I went to see this film with my girlfriend who, although not a big fan of horror movies has always been able to hold her own, had both legs wrapped around me and was nearly in tears. Of the last half hour of the film I'd wager she saw maybe five minutes. The catch is, I was squeezing her just as tight. Highly reccomended.

5 out of 5 stars

A very impressive and satisfying ghost story. April 17, 2008
25 out of 28 found this review helpful

O.K. first of all I have to say that there were plenty of great reviews for this film on other websites, some calling it one of the best horror films of the year and scariest film ever and blah, blah etc. So was this film worth all the hype? I would definitely say yes!. The Orphanage is the latest supernatural thriller/horror film from Spain, its a slick and quietly chilling piece of work blending traditional scares with modern touches. The way this film works is that it manages to get under your skin and makes you think about it for a while after its ended, the ending was quite moving, sad and horrifying at the same time. The film also had a great storyline which tells a great ghost story that was very original and it was beautifully directed by Juan Antonio Bayona which also happens to be his directorial debut and in my honest opinion he did a wonderful job, the film was also produced by Guillermo Del Toro so you can see how influential his films were to The Orphanage so if you liked Pan's Labyrinth or any classic haunted house films like The changeling, Burnt Offerings and The Haunting then your going to love this.

The acting was phenomenal especially from Belen Rueda as Laura who was very distraught but still strong as the mother looking for her missing son and she showed a wide range of emotions its no wonder that she won several awards for her performance in this film. The plot deals with a woman named Laura (Belen Rueda) who purchases her beloved childhood orphanage with dreams of restoring and reopening the long abandoned facility as a place for disabled children. Once there she discovers that the new environment awakens her son's imagination but the ongoing fantasy games he plays with an invisible friend quickly turn into something more disturbing, check out the knock on wood game the kids play during the beginning then the following similar scene that happens during the course of the film that has got to be one of the scariest scenes I've ever seen and once you've seen the film then you'll understand why I'll just leave it at that, I never thought that a kids game could be so damn scary I thought it was very clever. Laura's son Simon also happens to have a fatal illness he seems to be HIV positive and frequently requires some medication, his actions later on begins to worry his mother his erratic behavior and the fact that he seems to have more imaginary friends becomes even more bizarre and at one point during a party with the disabled kids he vanishes and Laura is simultaneously attacked by a mysterious child in a sack mask, she imediately suspects Simon's 'new friends' and to make matters worse Simon needs his medication before its too late. Laura becomes frightened and increasingly more paranoid as it is very hard for her to explain these things to people especially her husband Carlos played by Fernando Cayo and she even brings in a medium to find out where her son disappeared to.

The film had some great drama as well as some nice intense moments and the use of locations in this film was terrific, first of all you have the huge and creepy mansion thats been used many times in these type of films but was still quite effective then theres this cave near the beach as well as others so the film uses different locations utilising some great cinematography. The director has fantastic use of mood and setting as the ghosts are used to creep out the viewer and doesn't have to get messy doing it which is something that Hollywood needs to learn when making a horror film, it doesn't have any gore but there is a horrific car accident and plenty of scares which catches you off guard like the Knock on wood game and it has a very ominous and eerie setting that was very well shot and the characters are very well developed and I'm not going to over analyze the characters cause I've noticed that other reviewers have done that already I'm the type of person who enjoys a film without questioning what the main character's motivations are or why they did this particular thing in the first place unless it was a dumb blockbuster and besides I'm not a snobby critic ;-).Anyway The Orphanage is a very unique Spanish horror film and one of the best I have ever seen, an entertaining and great horror film thats guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat and I highly recommend this so what are you waiting for GO WATCH THIS NOW!.

4 out of 5 stars

Sophisticated and Carefully Constructed Ghost Story... April 26, 2008
20 out of 23 found this review helpful

THE ORPHANAGE is the latest supernatural film from Spain which definitely has the feel of Guillermo del Toro's influence. Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, based on the screenplay by Sergio Sanchez; the film is an enchanting, creative gothic horror film that follows the footsteps of "The Devil's Backbone", "Pan's Labyrinth" and "The Others". Much like the aforementioned films, "The Orphanage" has a theme to it, it is not a fast-paced horror thriller with the usual cliches. The film is a clever, inspired production that gives a "nudge" towards our imagination. After all, our imagination and innocence gets lost when we grow up, corrupted by our own personal experiences.

Returning to her childhood home; a mysterious seaside orphanage, Laura (Belen Ruede) and her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) has plans to reopen the orphanage to help underprivileged children as well as those children with special handicap. They have an adopted son named Simon (Roger Pincep), who is also suffering from HIV and has quite a "posse" of imaginary friends. When strange incidents happen in their home, and Simon mysteriously disappears, Laura must confront the secrets of her past and the otherworldly secrets of the orphanage before it destroys everything that she cares for...

The Orphanage's plot is complex and intelligent, with a powerful script that grabs the viewer that may even give the feeling of a fable. The film has multiple themes as to what it is trying to say; such as listen to what children are telling you, interpretations of childhood and adulthood fears, and the danger of being stationary as time passes you by. The film is more of a mother's point of view of a certain fairy tale that takes a stab at our imagination and the things we take for granted. The film's execution is full of intrigue that is a welcome break from all the Asian horror remakes that Hollywood has bombarded us with. The proceedings have a creepy and eerie feel at times, dare I say also seductive?

The film is also emotionally driven and it does take its time for us to get to know the characters. Laura played by Belen Ruede is a mother bent on helping children, the actress definitely expresses the needed emotions in supporting its carefully constructed story. While the film may support a slight pacing issue, I can excuse this minor fault since this film is Juan Antonio Bayona's full length directorial debut. Laura is a mother very much in tuned to her emotions while her husband Carlos is more of the rational kind. Once Simon disappears, the film takes off into a more intense but curiously enchanting pace; as Laura searches and obsesses in finding her son. The introduction of resident psychic Aurora and the policewoman, Pilar adds more controversy on the plate, since they were obviously set to confuse Laura and the viewer's opinions. Just who is Aurora? Is she a real medium or is she a con artist?

It is very difficult to review "The Orphanage" without spoiling a lot of its effect. I believe I should stop here, before I say anything else. Suffice it to say that if you are expecting something scary on a very graphic scale or if you are expecting an experience that will give you non-stop visual chills, this film may not be for you. Don't get me wrong, the film does have its share of credible chills and shock value but it's the kind that stabs in your imagination. This type of feature will entangle you into its web and the more you're entangled, the better you'll enjoy it. The film is a genuine attempt in creeping you out more than scaring the pants out of you. It is a perfect execution of spirit world storytelling that leaves you an emotionally driven climax with a sensation of terror and disturbing comfort.

Highly Recommended! [4 Stars]

Video/Audio: 2.35 anamorphic widescreen. Clean and impressive transfer with accurate colors. The 5.1 Dolby Digital Spanish Language track is very powerful and clear. Subtitles are excellent.
Features: Making of/Make up effects/interviews/auditions/marketing spots

5 out of 5 stars

Children of the Damned December 30, 2007
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

Despite what you may have heard from critics, I've found 2007 to be a disappointing year. I have been unable to find one film that truly touched me. Every year I like to make a "top ten" list on amazon of my favorite films of the year. This year I can't do it. I cannot think of ten films that touched me on a personal and profound level. For all the talk this year about films such as "Juno" and "No Country for Old Men", both which I found to be a little over-rated, nothing spoke to me. No film involved me from beginning to end. That is until I saw this film.

Juan Antonio Bayona's "The Orphanage" is a magical nightmare. What appears to be taking us on a journey to hell actually becomes a sentimental, poignant, creepy, psychological, suspenseful, horror masterpiece. It is the best film of the year! And to think, this is the feature lenght debut film of Bayona's. He doesn't have many short films to his credit, he has even directed a music video, but, if he continues to make films of this quality, we have a new talent on our hands and I will eagerly await each and every single one of his films.

"The Orphanage" stars Belen Rueda as Laura. Laura grew up in a orphanage and has decided to move back to the orphanage to live and start her own orphanage along with her husband, Carlos (Fernando Cayo) and their adopted son, Simon (Roger Princep). Laura wants to give back. She knows the struggles these children go through. It is the least she can do for them.

Sadly Laura's good intentions don't work out. Her son talks of imaginary friends who like to play treasure hunt games and walk around with sack masks. They also tell the boy secrets which his parents do not think he is old enough to understand. One day Simon's child care worker shows up, Benigna (Montserrat Carulla) inquiring about they boy. And this is where our journey really starts to begin.

To say more about the plot would be a fool's mistake. I'd ruin it for you. The film works best when you just know the basics of the plot. What I would like to discuss though is the way Bayona sets up the film. It is a wounderous blend of horror, shock and drama and psychological suspense. The film never goes for an easy scare. The film plays with our mind. Just when we think some cliche cinematic scare is going to happen it doesn't. It is the unknown which scares us. The "what if" factor. What if that was me, what would I do? Once we put ourselves into the character's shoes we are hooked.

The film was produced by Guillermo de Toro who gave us one of last year's masterpieces "Pan's Labyrinth". There are some similarities between the two films. The messages are just about the same but I won't go into details for fear of spoiling the film.

The performances across the board are effective. Everyone is believeable in their character adding a certain human dimension which fleshes them out. The most effective performance though is given by Rueda as the mother. We go on this journey with her every step of the way. We feel her pain and share her delight at every turn. And I haven't been able to say that about many other characters I've seen in films this year.

Unfortunately critics haven't been hyping the film the way they have others, a shame. I hope audiences will seek the film out on their own. That is why much is being made of the fact de Toro produced it, hoping audiences will associate it with "Pan's Labyrinth" and go see it. The film has gotten a few award nominations including the Chicago Film Critics award for "Best Foreign Film" and it almost swept the Barcelona Film Awards taking "Best Picture". It is even Spain's official Oscar entry for next year's show.

Will my review inspire others to see the film? I doubt it. But if enough people tell their friends about it the film could pick up a lot of word of mouth. The audience I saw this film with seemed very pleased with it. We all jumped out of our seats at the right moments and got choked up at the sentimental moments. The entire audience was engaged, a few people were shouting at the screen. This should be a real audience pleaser. And that's why I think it's the year's best film!

Bottom-line: The best film of 2007! No film has come as close to touching me on a personal level. Juan Antonio Bayona has made a magical nightmare. A sentimental, poignant, creepy, psychological, suspenseful, horror masterpiece.

5 out of 5 stars

Supernatural Thriller as Meditation on History and Reality January 13, 2008
9 out of 14 found this review helpful

Like Victor Erice's exquisite masterpiece Spirit of the Beehive (1973) & the films of Guillermo Del Toro (Cronos, Devil's Backbone & Pan's Labyrinth)this film transcends the supernatural genre and succeeds on a much higher level as the film functions not only as a very effective thrill and chill ride but also as a profound meditation on the individual's relationship to history (personal and collective, social and political history) and the individual's (highly subjective) relation to "reality."

Hollywood productions have become so steeped in the artificial enhancement of reality--and the artfullness of the Hollywood film has become so compromised by star charisma and artless formula-- that alternative and international cinema are the only places to go for a glimpse of artfully explored reality and artful/soulful performances. Art does still exist, after all, its just Hollywood that has ceased to support it.

Plus this film is truly scary in the way that Turn of the Screw, the Henry James novella (and the film version of that novella, The Innocents), is scary.

For me substantively this film does not quite succeed on the same level as Spirit of the Beehive or Pan's Labyrinth, primarily because the film is not as invested in the political as those more accomplished works (which masterfully use supernatural content to comment on the politically enmeshed psyche's of their troubled/tortured protoganists). But the excitement of the film is in seeing that the remarkable traditions/accomplishments of recent (and not so recent) Spanish cinema will (hopefully) continue on into the next generation. This is a filmaker who has studied his master's (pacing, lighting, suspenseful quiet, evocative atmospheres...) well. Though the film is not as substantively rich as Erice's masterwork or Del Toro's work it is a pleasure to see that fine films with subtitles can still find their way in to American Movie theatres (even mall cineplexes). With everyone else who has seen this film, I look forward to seeing this director's future work.

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