Spine Tingling Backbone (The Devil's Backbone (DVD))

Member Name: utero

Product:	The Devil's Backbone (DVD)
Date:	15/08/03 (94 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well Directed, Good Performances, Interesting

Disadvantages: Slow Pace

Various movie magazines and people in the British media are constantly scratching their heads when they wonder why the British film industry is mostly crap. Well that's probably because the money goes to films that are mostly crap, formulaic and generally have a happy romantic or farcical vibe. Meanwhile the French knock out stunning films such as Amelie and Brotherhood of the Wolf. Asia knocks out films suchas Dark Water and The Eye. Meanwhile in other parts of the world you have films such as The Devils Backbone.

It is 1939 and the Spanish Civil War is coming to an end. A young boy named Carlos is dropped off at a remote orphanage that is secretly harbouring gold for the Republican cause, a cause that is close to defeat. Carols finds his surrounding uncomfortable and not all of the fellow orphans are welcoming. Far more nasty is the caretaker Jacinto who has a violent streak and a desire to get the gold. Amongst the boys there is talk of a child who went missing. Carlos encounters the ghost of Santi in the lower levels of the orphanage and slowly he comes to realize that the threat of war is not the real danger.

This is a movie that deals with spirits but it works on a number of levels. It's a period drama, a spooky thriller and a revenge story. The film throws in some good ideas to keep the pace moving along but it never loses its way or over complicates things. It has an abundance of unsettling moments and creepy tension that can draw comparisons to the likes of The Others and The Sixth Sense.

Director Guillermo Del Toro is someone who constantly dabbles in the dark side of storytelling. But what is great about Del Toro is he's a director who can make something effective on a small budget like this before going Hollywood on the likes of Blade 2 and Mimic. His direction here is excellent as he generates scares and just a generally unsettling ambience where you can't wait to see what's around the next corner. This is
helped greatly by the gorgeous looking cinematography by Guillermo Navarro, the film has a rich warm style throughout which frankly puts the empty looking British movies to shame.

Del Toro gets great performances out of his older cast members but most of the film relies on the younger actors and there isn't a weak link here. All of them are believable and do an accomplished job. Del Toro also throws in little things that intrigue the audience such as an unexploded bomb that just sits embedded in the courtyard. The ghost of Santi is also eerily realized by appearing to be walking around permanently floating in water. There are some subtle effects used here such as blood running out of his head into the open air like mist.

Some people may find the pace of the movie quite slow and very low on thrills. This is art house and that probably won't appeal to the masses. However The Devils Backbone has all the elements that make a great film. Good acting, story and style. This has been shown on BBC 4 recently so look out for it as they may show it again in the near future. Alternatively it is available on DVD.

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