o0o0 my review of devil's backbone:
THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE
The Devil's Backbone, Is a deeply intriguing and well thought out piece of cinema. Guillermo Del Toro yet again delivers on so many levels, this time with a ghost story, however he has managed to yet again subvert all the preconceptions we hold of the genre.
Carlos is young boy, unknowingly orphaned in the Spanish civil war, he is sent to live in an orphanage. In the centre of the courtyard there is a bomb, one which never detonated. The same day as the bomb landed, a young orphan named Santi disappeared, who's ghost is believed to haunt the orphanage according to some children. As Carlos finds himself investigating the mystery, a swathe of enigma and twists ensue.
The first thing that hits you about this film is the atmosphere. By clever use of close ups, we find ourselves right in the heat of every moment with Carlos, fixated as much as he is. Which is where the horror element prospers greatly, having sucked us in and heightened our emotions, Guillermo Del Toro delivers enough suspense and shock to please any thriller fan. Lighting is a key element for the film, further developing the enigmatic aspect, and drawing us in further as we peer through the shadows. In terms of the score, a deep pulse controls our own heart rate, whilst different sections of music invoke certain moods, for particular sequences.
Special effects wise, we are left with only a minimal amount, as it is only used to help suspend disbelief, not to create the world of the film. The only notable effects are of Santi, who changes the feel of any frame in which he enters.
The whole movie is consistently linked throughout, continually referencing other parts, where something briefly mentioned in passing at the opening stages, becomes a clue or something to further enrich the audiences experience. It's only in the closing stages that we get to understand the film, however some things are only explained via association, leaving an air of mystery around The Devil's Backbone.
Editing wise, the audience is treated with intelligence, only cutting to flashbacks when deemed necessary, instead of using cutting techniques to hold interest, this is done via the acting, substance of narrative and the exceptional direction. Simplicity of edits gives the whole movie a realistic quality, and as it is a period piece, the style in which it is filmed means the piece will never date.
As with any horror film, there are faults. There are quite a few moments where we are tense, and desperately confused as to how a small boy would have the courage or stupidity to search out and investigate a strange place alone at night. This matter is soon forgotten, as the finer points are beautifully woven together, but it does feel that common sense and human nature were brushed aside in favour of edging on the narrative.
To place this film entirely in the horror genre would be doing it an injustice, as it's high level of substance surpasses the typical horror movie, and the features of drama and that of a period film extend it above the constraints of a single set of generic conventions. One of the finer examples of Guillermo Del Toro's work, and definitely an exempt piece of Spanish cinema, The Devil's Backbone is both style and substance masterfully sewn together.
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