The Orphanage [Blu-ray] [2007] - DVD (Belen Rueda, Geraldine Chaplin, Fernando Cayo - Dir: Juan Antonio Bayona)

Belen Rueda, Geraldine Chaplin, Fernando Cayo

Customer Reviews of The Orphanage [Blu-ray] [2007]

miss waspy
edinburgh Great Britain
26th September 2008

Decent Film But For The Sound
Set in a remote, creaky, gothic house where the protagonists rattle round like peas I'd've given this two stars but for the rather poignant twist at the end which made me quite weepy. It's a workaday ghost story but very well acted, I have to say though that I've always found Geraldine Chaplin's face too comical for the kind of parts I've seen her play and here is no exception.
Don't buy this version(Optimum Home) because the sound is infuriating. All the background hiss and crackle which you normally wouldn't notice but which is always there when the actors are speaking becomes very conspicuous during the pauses in dialogue because they've been cut out. All of a sudden it's like the sound failed and sometimes you can see (eg by someone's apparent intake of breath) that they've not reinstated it in time for the next actor's lines. In an atmospheric film like this if you're going to have significant pauses you can't muck around like that.

dazzling33
Middlesex UK
5th September 2008

Most Stunning and Original Ghost Story for an age.
This is what tvs were made for. The film takes a while to get going but this is a good point not a bad point as the details in the early stages have to be taken in. The subtitles dont distract from from the pure class of this brilliant film and the acting is sheer brilliance. Although there is little or no gore it still has the ability of scaring the pants off you and is a film that long after you have finished watching it you start to understand it more and more. Guillermo has not put a foot wrong in this movie a real gem.

Vinman666
Essex, U.K.
11th August 2008

A ghost story, not a horror
After the visual splendour and powerful background of the Spanish Civil War in Pan's Labyrinth, I was really looking forward to seeing this. However The Orphanage is very different, though equally memorable. The film is much lower key; special effects here are subtle and never overpower the story. In fact this is a tour de force of understated, creepy and goosebump inducing cinema.
If your preferred type of scary movie involves teenagers and multiple graphic murders then you may not enjoy this. On the other hand, if you enjoyed films such as The Others, The Changeling and old black and white classic The Innocents then you will appreciate the care that has gone into The Orphanage. It may not go on to be regarded as a classic (hence the 4 stars) but it's the best example of its kind in some time.
As the director himself says in a voiceover, there are two types of people: those who like to be spoon-fed and have everything explained to them and those who like mystery and to make their own minds up. The latter type of person will find much to ponder here.
Without giving anything away, one particular sequence which leads to the ghosts appearing for the first time still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up just by thinking about it. Like another reviewer says, it's like a Hitchcock scene: you know what is going to happen but the expectation merely adds to the impact.
In terms of the Blu-ray, the picture quality is good without being particularly impressive but, most importantly, it retains lots of shadow detail which is necessary for much of the film takes place indoors at night. Highly recommended.

KM
England
11th August 2008

One of the creepiest films I've ever seen
`The Orphanage' from producer Guillermo del Toro is about a woman named Laura who returns to live at the old orphanage where she grew up, with her husband and her adopted son, Símon. Símon has some imaginary friends who play treasure hunt games with him. When he goes missing Laura finds out more about the orphanage and learns that Símon's friends maybe aren't imaginary after all.

First of all, I must say that this is without a doubt one of the creepiest and most atmospheric films that I have ever seen. I am a massive fan of Del Toro's previous film, Pan's Labyrinth, so I couldn't wait to finally see this film. Although it perhaps isn't as good as Pan's Labyrinth overall, it is a lot more gripping and eerie and is one that kept me thinking long after it had finished. I watched this film knowing nothing about it too, so if you can avoid knowing the story before watching this, it is all the better for it as I really didn't know what to expect next.

It got to near the end of the film and I was thinking that the ending didn't make all that much sense but then there is the double twist which made me think - wow, this is a classic. If it hadn't been for the last scene, I think my opinion of this would be a lot different and perhaps my review rating a little lower.

I do like foreign films, although don't watch too many of them, but after about 5 minutes of watching this I didn't even realise I was reading the subtitles anymore as I was just so engrossed in the story. So if that is something that would put you off watching this - don't let it as you will honestly be missing out on one of the best supernatural thrillers ever made.

Overall this is a very chilling and genuinely scary film that I highly recommend. Everything about it from the story, the acting, the atmosphere, the presentation and the music is just brilliant, However, I strongly recommend not watching this alone or every creak in the house will make you wonder what it is!

M. King
England
4th August 2008

ITS OK! BUT NOT BRILLIANT
Well after reading the glowing reviews I was very excited about watching this film but,oh,I was so disappointed along with my missus. Its NOT scary but does have a couple of 'make you jump scenes' but only a couple. Yes its well photographed and looks good but the story lacks an edge and doesnt go to where you feel it should, the ending is heart rending but descends into nonsense - a great opportunity missed here I feel. Good, decent sort of detective element to it but NO classic!