step into his world, if you dare!!! (The Devil's Backbone (DVD))

Member Name: giksy21

Product:	The Devil's Backbone (DVD)
Date:	05/08/07 (114 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Captivating, Spellbinding

Disadvantages: Spanish with English titles - I think it adds though

The devil’s backbone - Guillermo Del Toro.

I first got into Guillermo’s work having watched Pan’s labyrinth. How ironic it was that that was his most recent work, and I worked from it, backwards to his humbler beginnings. Guillermo is possibly better known for his work on Blade 2, and also cult classic, Hellboy. His passion is definitely for fantasy, and having watched Pan I simply adored his style, so immediately went to my local HMV and got them to look up other work of his. They had to order it for me but within a week I received a copy of the Devil’s Backbone for only seven pounds.

What the critics said -

“Magnificent performances all round. An intimate and captivating ghost story” - Hot Dogs Mark Wyatt.

“Breathtaking. Contains more substance and style than a dozen Hollywood movies” - Empires Colin Kennedy

“A gutsy, first-rate, full blooded ghost story, as elegant as it is brilliantly realised” - Total films Simon Crook.

Praise indeed, but is it worthy of such acclaim? We will see, by taking a look at the film, and the style.

Born on October 9th 1964, Del Toro was brought up by a strict catholic grandmother in Guadalajara Mexico. He realised his love of film in his teens, and learned about make-up and effects working alongside Dick Smith on the Exorcist in 1973. He worked in make-up for many years, but finally got the break he yearned for in 1993, directing Cronos. This won him 9 academy awards in Mexico, and launched him on his way. His background links him to his work. He often uses religious imagery and always mentions Catholicism in his films. Also he quite often uses insects or insect imagery. Belief in eternal life after death is realised in several films, and is important in The Devil’s Backbone.

The Setting -

The time is the end of the Spanish civil war. A remote orphanage in the middle of nowhere, kids are left here to be away from the terrors of the time. The building is old, worn, and has a distinct lack of comfort. The relationships between the orphans are tight knit, and when a new boy arrives he struggles for acceptance

The plot (no spoilers) -

The children are distant. There but not there. What is it that has them in this surreal state? One child was killed years previous, and it is long believed he was killed by the falling of an unexploded bomb in the orphanage grounds. The shock of this, however is not the reason for their distance. Rather the fact that their waking dreams have become terrorised by the decaying spirit of the boy - Santi. They are afraid that they will be killed by Santi, and as such cannot live the care free lives that boys should. However, as the story progresses, you learn the true story of the death of Santi, and why he is still there. This keeps you in suspense until its gripping finale, which is fitting to the story that goes on before. Captivating, it will draw you in to the world, and many times I jumped with fear.

Performances -

Actors who you will not have heard of perhaps, not one of the stars fails to give an outstanding performance. The main character, Carlos is played flawlessly by Fernando Tielve, who is so convincing in his search for the trust of the children. Federico Luppi, Who plays the professor, who runs the orphanage alongside his frustrated wife, played by Marisa Paredes. She is unfulfilled in her relationship with carlos, and turns to the groundskeeper Jacinto to satisfy her yearnings. Jacinto, is the real star of the show here though. Played by relatively unknown actor Eduardo Noriega, This is the character about whom we learn most. Traitor, and sneak, he betrays the children only to be undone in the end. His past comes back to haunt him shall we say?

My verdict -

Like the highly acclaimed Pan’s Labyrinth, which I must say is one of my favourite films of all time, this plays in Spanish, with English subtitles. This may be a deterrent for many, but indeed I think that it adds to the atmosphere of the film. And this is what the film is all about. Atmosphere. No top of the range effects her. Nor are there any big name actors, or high budgets to work with. What we have is pure, and raw, and flawless. The directors passion for the fantastical is evident throughout, and this carries the film to a higher level. Possibly, I was sceptical of this work when it first arrived, as you will generally find that directors earlier works are poor, as they find their feet and develop a style. Perhaps Del Toro already had his due to his long wait for a break, but this is a brilliant film. It makes most of the higher budget films of the genre pale into insignificance with its power and emotion. Let the film absorb you. Enter its world, and it will take you on an adventure that you will not forget. A ghost story told with such belief, that you will be checking under the bed, believe me.

Recommended - G

Summary: Little known wonder of the film world