The Orphanage

     J. A. Bayona pulled absolutely zero punches when he made The Orphanage which is truly something considering it was his debut feature. I absolutely love this film. It is not crazy to say that this is probably in my top five horror films of all time. It is just that good. But what exactly makes it so good? I wanted to review this because not only is it a great horror film, but it is also presented in the Spanish language, and I am a big advocate for foreign language films because they are some of the best. If you can get past the fact that you have to read subtitles throughout the film, I highly suggest that you check this film out. Now, let us discuss why you should.

            For starters, this film is actually scary, and not in the jump scare type of scary. It genuinely brings a chill to your spine and builds up tension throughout it with its use of imagery, mystery, myth, and sounds. The performances here are also fantastic from everyone but especially Belén Rueda. She is absolutely convincing as a pained mother who just wants to uncover the truth and her emotions pour out of the screen. The desperation that she begins to feel is something that the audience also begins to feel. You feel her pain, her anguish, her sorrow, and you want to uncover the mystery just as bad as she does. The performances really help to drive this forward, but it is the supernatural elements of the film and the mystery that make it a great watch.

            Much like The Ring, the mystery and backstory to this are its greatest elements. From the moment that Tomás is introduced, everything starts to get flipped on what you would expect. His character is genuinely creepy, and his backstory, as well as that of the other orphans are truly tragic. The scene with the medium and the climax to the film when everything starts to come together is some of the most tense I have ever felt during a film. You come to expect jump scares during horror films that it is refreshing watching something like this and seeing what horror can be. Bayona does a fantastic job directing this as he carries a certain feel throughout the entire thing. It never starts to lose itself or become something bigger than it needs to be. The cinematography from Óscar Faura is also wonderful. The views of the house, the beach, it is all captured so beautifully and helps add to the feeling of terror and suspense.

            Films like this are important. It is important to realize that foreign language films should not be ostracized just because they require subtitles to watch, and I am glad that with films like Parasite people are starting to pay more attention. This is one of the best ones and I truly believe that this Halloween season you should give this a chance because I feel that you might enjoy it. Just be sure to turn off all of your lights and watch it in the darkness to truly give you the best ambiance. Official Rating: 4 Stars.

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