Number 8 in my non-English subtitled movies which just the mention of subtitle’s puts some people off and I can see why as its difficult to read and follow what is going on onscreen. I can appreciate that but this is an atmospheric spooky movie that is gloomy and sad, scary and spooky and terrifying all at the same time. We follow the story in a circle leading us back to the beginning again in a clever story played out to perfection by the director J.A. Bayona. I feel I have to mention the Screenplay writer in Sergio G. Sánchez with a great story if not a happy one. The movie stars a list of names you have probably never heard of but here they are - Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep, Mabel Rivera, Montserrat Carulla, Andrés Gertrúdix, Edgar Vivar and Geraldine Chaplin (yes relation). For its release year of 2007 it had next to no budget with $4m it went on to make a return of $78.6m at the box-office. How anyone gave this movie less than 80 is shocker and clearly people couldn’t cope with the subtitles as IMDb gave it a 7.4 out of 10, while Rotten Tomatoes knows class when it sees it with a score of 83%. One of the main characters has a ó in his name which is a real pain to include on here but to the story…
Laura was adopted 30 years ago but we see her as an adult as she returns to the closed orphanage along with Carlos her husband and Simón her son who is seven. Her plan is to reopen the orphanage for disabled children. Simón befriends Tomás and draws a picture of him wearing a sack mask. A Social Worker visits to enquire about Simón who discovers he was adopted and HIV positive. Laura is angry at the Social Workers intrusion she demands that she leaves but later that night she finds her in the coal shed but runs away when spotted. Simón plays a game with Laura that grants wishes but leads him straight to the documents showing his adoption, Simón gets angry and says that his knew friend told him as much and that he was going to die soon. They host a party for the re-opening of the orphanage and again Laura and Simón argue and Simón runs and hides from Laura. When searching for him she finds a sack headed boy who pushes her into the bathroom and locks the door. When she finally escapes she realises that Simón is still missing and desperate searches doesn’t find him. That night Laura hears lots of banging and crashing within the walls. They contact the police and their psychologist hints that the Social Worker may of adducted Simón. Six months later Simón has not returned but Laura has a chance encounter with the Social Worker and before she gets to quiz her the Social Worker is killed. The police then turn up that she used to work at the orphanage and had a son that was kept hidden from the rest of the orphanage who was named Tomás. Laura discovers that after she was adopted and had left the orphanage the other orphans had stolen Tomás’ mask. Ashamed of his deformed face below the mask he runs away to hide in a local sea cave which fills at high tide leaving him no escape as the sea comes in. Laura’s already strained marriage reaches breaking point when Laura calls in a medium with the hope of making contact with Simón.
OK I have to be honest and say that I could easily tell you the whole story as it is that good and I have just gone back over the story above and cut bits out as I revealed way too much of the story. A story that makes this atmospheric movie even better. The night Simón disappears is bad but it just gets worse, you spend the whole movie flip flopping between thinking that Tomás is evil and then misunderstood then you feel sorry for him then you are scared of him again then you are scare of the other kids there then you want to help Laura then you feel that they may be haunting the orphanage to keep it empty for their own evil plans. I for one will be haunted by one scene where Laura plays one, two, three, knocking on the wall. Which is a bit like what’s the time Mr Wolf. Where you count whilst facing the wall turn to face your friends to see if you can catch them moving... Well Laura plays this type of game in an empty orphanage with no one else there and she is disappointed to see no one when she turns around and does the same thing one, two, three, knocking on the wall. Nothing. One, two, three knocking on the wall. Nothing again. Until she says the song and there is a bang behind her. She turns and the room is empty of people… One, Two, Three knocking on the wall. She turns and see’s motionless orphan to begin with then more and more as the game progresses until one is close enough to raise their hand to her shoulder. If this gloomy and spooky movie doesn’t put give you the spooks nothing will. Many people liked the others for its sudden music hits well this movie does that and then some. It is so spooky without ever given you a cheap jump scare for nothing. This movie puts you on an emotional roller coaster and then drags you to the edge of your seat until you cannot cling on anymore. Again if you can cope with the subtitles then definitely watch this movie.
Next on the list is a national icon returning to my list for their 4th time but I am sure it won’t be their last one…
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