The Orphanage

The Orphanage tells the story of a family who moves into what used to be the orphanage where the mother spent her childhood only to discover that a lot of mysterious events that happened a long time ago are still unresolved.

A rather welcome addition to the thriller/horror genre, The Orphanage is quite original and avoids all the gore that’s become the staple of the genre or late, opting instead for a more old-school approach that limits what we are shown and plays with the audience’s anxiety.

The cast does a pretty good job, especially Belén Rueda, on whose shoulders the whole movie rests.  Of note are also the photography, with its dark tones, and the direction of Juan Antonio Bayona, who gained international fame thanks to this movie.

Grade: 7