Octoblur 2014 - #05: The Devil's Backbone (2001)
Written by dorrk |
The Devil's Backbone was rated by Flickchart as the best horror movie I hadn't seen, so I made it my fifth viewing choice this Octoblur. It was good, with supernatural elements and some very gruesome violence, but the movie's horror elements were its weakest part.
Director Guillermo Del Toro's third feature is set during the Spanish Civil War, at a remote, destitute boarding school as it's asked to take on yet another orphan of the conflict. As young Carlos attempts to navigate the hazing and bullying typical for new wards, he also discovers that the ghost of a former student is lurking around.
The Devil's Backbone is a very good drama, with nice performances, and some beautiful visuals. However, it never connected with me emotionally the way Del Toro's Pan Labyrinth did, and was never as creepy as either that movie or The Orphange, which Del Toro produced.
While I liked The Devil's Backbone, it feels like one of the weaker entries this Octoblur as far as horror elements are concerned, but it's a fine movie that will appeal to audiences with little to no particular interest in the genre.
