Perhaps you’re a horror enthusiast tired of the pointless remakes Hollywood is churning out (Was anyone clamoring for a redo of Prom Night?) Or perhaps you loved Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning Pan’s Labyrinth. Either way, you’ve got to check out The Orphanage. Available now on DVD and Blu-ray, this Spanish-language blockbuster produced by del Toro and directed by J.A. Bayona proves to be the ultra-rare genre picture that is simultaneously chilling and genuinely heartbreaking. After returning to the seaside orphanage where she grew up with the intention of opening a home for handicapped children, Laura and her family stir up the angry spirit of a disfigured boy, Tomás (pictured). When Laura’s young son vanishes without a trace after talking to his new “imaginary” friends, the distraught mother must confront her past memories and the lost souls haunting the orphanage to unravel the mystery of her son’s disappearance.
Bayona, whom I have met many times through a mutual friend, has an unparalleled enthusiasm for moviemaking and the horror genre in general. He managed with The Orphanage, his feature debut, to create not only a classy and compelling horror-drama but also an international hit (It was one of Spain’s highest-grossing films ever).
Some of the featurettes on the disc contain interviews with both Bayona and del Toro about their belief in this story and the talented cast, especially Belén Rueda, who plays Laura. Her affecting performance and character’s ultimate fate will haunt you long after you eject the disc. Word is that New Line is already thinking about an English-language remake. (Are Americans really that allergic to subtitles?). If the studio goes for it, we hope that both del Toro and Bayona are onboard so that this wonderful ghost story doesn’t join Hollywood’s ever-increasing long list of uninspired double dips. That would be a real horror.
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