DVD Review " THE ORPHANAGE" (EL ORFANATO)" Score A-

Although film had a mainstream release it is none the less a foreign film as this is a Spanish made film (with English subtitles) and its one of the more brilliant ones from Spanish film makers in the past few years. Guillimo Del Torro (of the superb Pan's Labryinth and Hell Boy 1 and 2) produces this and I am sure that after he read this smart script he wanted to be involved. Although billed as a horror film this one nicely omits the overkill of gore that most modern films in this genre think they need to supply. It is actually more of a mystery with elements of psychological terror and desperation thrown in. As long as you pay attention to the film it will leave you thinking about it for a while when it ends. As viewers we are left with all the clues and explanations but aren't spoon fed them and the film makers respect us enough to know that we are as smart as the script is and we can figure it out in the way they laid it out for us. After seeing the movie and pondering on this for a bit you will come to those "Oh yea" moments where the whole thing makes sense to you. The supernatural parts are there, and the reality parts are there for us to piece together. I really liked this and give points to the director for crafting a really decent well made film. Check this one out for sure.