Too many horror movies today tend to go for cheap thrills, such as jump-scares and graphic violence, rather than focusing on what makes the genre so special – slow-building suspense and a thick and eerie atmosphere. There is nothing wrong with mixing the two together, but too often directors forget about the mood of the film altogether. It is quite rare to find slow-burning and cleverly crafted horror films such as past classics like The Shining or The Changeling. Some of the most recent motion pictures that do capture this more vintage style of horror film are from Spanish speaking countries such as Spain and Mexico. It has been quite impressive to watch the sizeable amount of these style of horror films emerge over the past decade or so. One such film is the 2007 horror flick The Orphanage.
The movie is written by Sergio G. Sánchez and directed by J.A. Bayona, the team that created the emotionally heavy and critically acclaimed Thailand tsunami movie The Impossible (2012) – Naomi Watts was nominated for an Oscar for this picture. And it will come as no surprise that The Orphanage was produced by horror maestro Guillermo Del Toro of Pan’s Labyrinth fame.
This Spanish film follows a woman named Laura, played masterfully by Belén Rueda, who decides to bring her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) and her young son Simón (Roger Príncep) back to the house where she grew up. Laura was raised in the grand old building as one of the many orphans that were being cared for there – and it was one of the best times of her life. Her plan: to return to the beautiful locale and reopen the orphanage to aid disabled children. It is a noble cause.
Yet, things become complicated when her son begins to talk about a group of invisible friends that Laura and Carlos believe are solely found in his overactive imagination. On top of this, a creepy elderly woman begins to snoop around the property after introducing herself as a social worker named Benigna (Montserrat Carulla).
By the time the introductory party (in which the children and their parents visit the house to see the setup) is upon them, Simón has had a few fights with his mother over several issues, including secret facts about himself that he has mysteriously uncovered. He is also upset as he wants to show his mother where his new invisible friend’s room is and she will not go. During the party, a child with a scary mask arrives and attacks Laura, and soon after Simón disappears.
This leads to a whirlwind investigation. When more than six months has passed, Laura turns to a medium named Aurora (played with haunting reality by Geraldine Chaplin) and her team to aid in the search. She seems to make contact with the ghost children, yet Carlos and an accompanying police psychologist named Pilar (Mabel Rivera) believe it is a scam and banish the group from the historic home. That is all I am going to mention about the plot, as I would like to leave the impressively layered script, twists, climax and denouement hidden for the viewers to witness on their own.
This movie is really so much more than a horror film. Like many of the great horror classics, it brings together many genres and topics. As much as it is a fantasy ghost story, it also holds such an emotional heft that one may think it is a heartbreaking drama. One may be reminded of the powerful punch that Pan’s Labyrinth also carried. There are also elements of a fairytale, which adds more of a philosophical component as well as a moral message to the story.
One may also pick up on some very gothic style themes and vibes. The movie does use some gory moments and jump-scares, but the slowly-built spooky atmosphere that is created over the hour and forty five minute film is something to behold. It is amazing to watch the complex layers come together to a satisfying conclusion.
The Orphanage also captures the true essence and undercurrent of what a ghost should be; a sad and tortured entity stuck in a loop just outside of our world. It does not hurt that the movie is set in such a beautiful yet eerie old mansion that is surrounded by the ocean, an abandoned lighthouse, a cave and a seemingly long-since-entered shed.
There are several scenes worth mentioning. Towards the end of the film, Laura is trying to play a game with the ghost children in order to find out what happened to her missing son. In one single uncut take, the camera flows back and forth as Laura knocks on the wood-paneled wall and counts to three (after which she exclaims “knock on the wall”). Each time she turns around the ghosts get closer. It is an eerie moment that must be seen. The climax is also stunningly shot and truly evokes the chilling elements of the gothic genre.
The Orphanage is a beautifully constructed and powerful film that demonstrates how ghost stories should be told. Unlike many horror movies today, it contains a multi-layered plot that creates a smart, spooky and emotional fairytale. So, watch The Orphanage this Halloween – you’ll never look at child’s play the same way.
English Subtitles