ThiefHott Too much of everything

Usamah Harvey The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Casey Duggan It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Smoreni Zmaj When it comes to Guillermo del Toro, I prefer Pan's Labyrinth / El laberinto del fauno (2006) much better, but nonetheless, this is worth watching.7/10

Charles G Dr. Casares: "You know what? Of all the orphans, you were always the saddest. The lost one. A prince without a kingdom.."Presenting The Devil's Backbone (also known as El Espinazo Del Diablo) Guillermo Del Toro showed once again what he's capable of. Once again the Fantasy and Gothic aspects are present, just like in many of his other projects. The stylish yet spooky fairy tale, with various subplots, is rich in both character and story. As a result that I found easy as a viewer to connect with the vulnerable but brave protagonists. That being said, I'd also have to applaud the superb acting by the entire cast. The movie will make you uncomfortable, but probably in a different way than you initially thought. The story's setting takes place in a, fairly isolated, orphanage in Catalonia (Spain) that has fallen as a result of the Spanish Ciliv War.Even though it's being labeled as a Horror movie, I can confirm, while it remains mainly a ghost story, that the movie is clearly a War Drama. Guillermo Del Toro successfully shows off his creative skills by combining the different genres in a subtle manner. In all honesty, this is one of the best pieces of cinema I've come across. At least, that's my opinion. convincing even one person to watch this movie would be so satisfying because it's truly worthy of your time. Even Del Toro himself considers it to be his most personal film. The Devil's Backbone is a sad ride but a tense experience that will cause shivers down your spine.

tao902 The Spanish Civil War is coming to an end and Carlos is placed in an orphanage after his father died in battle fighting for the Republicans.Carlos finds it difficult to feel comfortable in his new home, partly due to unpleasant characters within the orphanage and his new school but also because of the presence of a ghost known as Santi. A ghost haunts the inhabitants, bringing chaos and seeking revenge on its killer.Great cinematography and good plot but the storyline is poorly told by the film. It is difficult to care about or believe in any of the characters and some of the events don't fit smoothly into the overall narrative.

Claudio Carvalho During the Spanish Civil War, the twelve year-old boy Carlos (Fernando Tielve) is left behind by his family in an orphanage in the middle of nowhere. Dr. Casares (Federico Luppi) and his wife Carmen (Marisa Paredes) run the orphanage and the former orphan Jacinto (Eduardo Noriega), who lives with the teacher Conchita (Irene Visedo), is responsible to take care and for the maintenance of the place. Jacinto is an ambitious and violent man and has a love affair with Carmen trying to steal the key of the safe where Dr. Casares and his wife hide the gold that is used to support the Republican forces. Carlos is bullied by the strong boy Jaime (Íñigo Garcés), who is the leader of the other boys. One day, Carlos feels the presence of a ghost and soon he learns that he is the orphan Santi (Junio Valverde) that is missing. Carlos sees Santi several times and one day he learns the dark secret of his disappearance."El espinazo del diablo" is a sad and creepy ghost story in a dramatic environment. Having the background of the Spanish Civil War, Guillermo del Toro discloses the melancholic story of a boy abandoned by his family and his difficulties to adapt to his new life. The greedy Jacinto represents the worst that exists in the mankind, a cold and despicable man moved by ambition only. The performances are outstanding and the conclusion is heartbreaking since the boys are left with no perspectives in life. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "A Espinha do Diabo" ("The Devil's Backbone")