• Director: Juan Antonio Bayona

• Writer: Sergio G. Sanchez

• Producer (s): Guillermo Del Toro, Mar Targarona, Joaquin Padro & Alvaro Agustin

• Starring: Geraldine Chaplin, Belen Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Princep, Mabel Rivera  &  Edgar Vivar

• Genre: Horror

• Country: Spain, Mexico

• Language: Spanish

'The Orphanage' el orfanato (2007) audio is in native Spanish language. To fully enjoy the effect of the film--it is highly recommended that you enjoy the original language version with English subtitles--without English voice dubbing.

This film took me by surprise. I thought it was only a ghost story. But it is much, much more involved than just that. What is interesting, Guillermo Del Toro did not direct this film--but he instead took the back seat and produced this film. While watching this movie--it was almost as if he eerily weaved his own style in this very well written and intriguing film.

Laura (Belen Rueda) wanted to return to the place she grew up as a child. So many fond memories, friends--everything that could make a child happy. She thought that it would be a great place to raise her 7 year old son, Simon (Roger Princep)--and several other children who would benefit from the love and kindness she herself was familiar--the orphanage would be her home again and it would be Simon's home as well, at least for as long as he had time in this world. You see, Laura adopted Simon when he was just a baby--and although Simon would eventually die from his illness; Laura and her husband Dr. Carlos (Fernando Cayo) did not want Simon to be aware of this--and wish for him to live life to the fullest. Their love for him wrought eternal...as it should always be with parents and their young children.

Until one day a social worker, Benigna (Montserrat Carulla) paid them a visit. Benigna--adoption file--Simon's adoption file--in hand and wanted ask how Simon was getting along--with his illness and if he is aware of it (unbeknown to them both--Simon was listening). Offended with such personal questions from a complete stranger, Laura showed Benigna the front door. Later that same evening, Benigna was caught snooping about a shed in the rear of the orphanage--she got away.

Here is when the story unfolds--Simon begins to play a game that Thomas showed him. Laura knows that there are no other children at the orphanage--but Simon assures her that Thomas is real. So real in fact that he can show her where Thomas plays--near the ocean.

Scared yet? No--well there is more--Simon goes missing, Benigna may be to blame--where are these ghosts coming from? What's that noise--and why is there a need for a medium to find Simon?

Curious? It gets better. Prepare yourself to question your sanity along with Laura's and The Orphanage. How far are you willing to go for the love of a child?

'a tale of love..a story of horror' (2007).

'el orfanato' (2007).  The Orphanage.  Dir. Juan Antonio Bayona.  IMDb.