current: The Orphanage [90/100]

Produced by Guillermo del Toro, The Orphanage is a beautifully crafted, very scary ghost story from Spain. Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona from a screenplay by Sergio G Sanchez, The Orphanage has similar atmospherics to del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth, although it's more firmly rooted in its haunted house, and the supernatural elements are more conventional. But they are vivid and effective, and reflect a similar fascination with the inner lives of children. As our heroine Laura (Belen Rueda) becomes more determined to find her missing son, the narrative tightens its grip, combining stunning gothic visuals with state-of-the-art sound design. Even the opening credits are visually imaginative and creepy, this is some fine filmmaking.