El Espinazo del diablo (The Devil's Backbone)

...An instant of pain, perhaps. Something dead which still seems to be alive. An emotion suspended in time. Like a blurred photograph. Like an insect trapped in amber." Often compared to "The Sixth Sense (1999)" and "The Others (2001)", "The Devil's... Full review

"... As the road struck into the sierra we branched off to the right and climbed a narrow mule-track that wound round the mountain-side. The hills in that part of Spain are of a queer formation, horseshoe-shaped with flattish tops and... Full review

The year is 1939. The Spanish Civil War is nearing its bloody end. Ten year old Carlos, the orphaned son of a slain Republican, is left by his tutor at an isolated orphanage for boys. The school is destitute, barely able... Full review

THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE (El Espinazo del Diablo) Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Sound format: Dolby Digital During the Spanish Civil War, a young orphan boy (Fernando Tielve) is sent to an isolated boarding school where he encounters the ghost of a murdered child... Full review

Great care has been taken with the art direction. You are immediately transported to 1939, with Franco's army about to descend on the Spanish countryside. Even the crumbling buildings of the boys' school the characters inhabit play a role. The actors... Full review

After seeing the impressive rating on IMDb and being intrigued by its appearance at my local video store, I finally rented this film. I'm glad that I did. "Blade 2" and "Hellboy" were my only other del Toro film's to date.... Full review

I'm a massive fan of the horror genre, but I don't like ghost stories. To me, ghost stories are a poor manifestation of the genre. It's not the idea of ghosts that's the problem, it's the way the stories are presented;... Full review

Some people think horror is about busty teens and young rebels being picked off by mysterious killers or lots of gore from a made up creature. Well this film has neither so stay away. What you do have is a stunning... Full review

THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE is a Spanish language supernatural thriller. It consists of a haunted school for orphaned boys. Now, in an American film that would be all you get, a ghost running around scaring the young inhabitants of the gloomy building.... Full review

Every day scene is remarkable looking....shadow delineation is a major problem during many of the film's night sequences.....Rounding out the disc is a series of deleted scenes, the passionate....dialogue is crystal clear, fidelity is excellent.... ... Full Review

However, the film excels in most other areas.....As with most good foreign films, you will quickly forget you are reading subtitles....the direction from Guillermo del Toro is excellent (I'm really looking forward to seeing what he does with "Blade 2").....The story is well scripted.... ... Full Review

As involving as many of the subplots are, the horror/mystery is the real hook here, and del Toro is at his most effective in a pair of spooky scenes (one in a deserted kitchen and another utilizing a closet). As good as he is, however, perhaps the film's most difficult role belongs to newcomer Junio Valverde, under heavy makeup as the unnerving spirit. ... Full Review

The beauty of the film, in addition to its cinematic shots and masterful editing, is the extreme brilliance of the plot.....The Devil's Backbone is a diamond in the rough.....The sum of these parts results in a story of intrigue and intellect, with a delicious dash of horror..... ... Full Review

With the patient but effective direction of del Toro, the nice cinematography by Guillermo Navarro ( Spy Kids, Desperado ), and a quality acting job from a cast of mostly young talent, El Espinazo del Diablo ranks as one of the better horror dramas of recent years. ... Full Review

With Whom Do You Share Your Birthday?Is October 9th your birthday? Was someone special to you born on October 9th? With whom will you choose to celebrate this excellent occasion? ... Full Article

"The Orphanage" is destined to draw comparison to "The Devil's Backbone," producer Guillermo del Toro's frightening and atmospheric 2004 ghost story, in which another orphanage is at the heart of supernatural goings-on involving apparitions of children. ... Full Article

Nov 23 2006 Mexican director Guillermo del Toro's ( 'The Devil's Backbone' , 'Hellboy' ) dark adult fairytale, 'Pan's Labyrinth' , blends a realistic portrait of post-civil war Spain with a child's-eye view of a fantastical realm presided over by... ... Full Article

At the start of Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone , a bomb lands in the middle of an orphanage courtyard. Dropped from a Fascist plane during the final days of the Spanish Civil War, the shell doesn't explode, but... ... Full Article

Returning to pulp territory after The Devil's Backbone , Mexican director Guillermo del Toro cribs from his earlier work in an attempt to breathe life into Blade II , a sequel to the 1998 Marvel Comics -inspired potboiler. ... Full Article

Guillermo Del Toro's films are rabid commentaries on the suspension of time, often told through the point of view of children. In Cronos , a young girl keeps life-giving insects inside her innocent-looking dolly while the "funny shoes" boy from... ... Full Article