Customer Reviews
incredible dark fairy tale for grown ups. - By: Mr. J. Fowler, 07 Jan 2009 
Intelectual ghost story.This is a very clever film,but still easy to follow.Deep,dark,but not horror.I cried at the end.True genius,even better than pans lab.
A masterful piece of scary movie - By: Artsreadings, 13 Dec 2008 If this is not a horror film, the director does nonetheless know exactly how to handle the tricks to capture the spectator's attention & make the tension reach unbearable heights. The music plays a great part in this "mise en scène" with a soundtrack which rapidly brings chiver to anyone. In addition, the photography is indeed remarkable: the settings are very favourable, & the way scenes unroll is just amazing. This film is undoubtedly worth watching.
Another truly brilliant film from Guillermo Del Toro!!!! Be scared!! you wont be disappointed!!!! - By: Annie Sunshine, 13 Dec 2008 The Orphanage -
The Story Focuses on Laura, a young girl who was raised in the orphanage
But then left as she was adopted.
She returns as a grown woman with her husband & their young son Simon to the orphanage & have plans to turn the Orphanage into a home for sick & disabled children.
Simon the young son has an illness & needs regular medication & invents imaginary friends, or are they imaginary?
On the opening day of the reformed orphanage
Laura stumbles on a strangely masked smalll child who & following this Simon her young son disappears.
Days turn into weeks & there is still no sign of Simon -
Where is he?
Has he been taken?
Have his imaginary friends taken him?
Suddenly strange things start to happen in the house noises bangs etc....
Laura decides to hire a medium who confirms that something is going on with the house relating to children.
Then the story unfolds...............
When alll is revealed you will be left breathless & moved.
Truly Another brilliant film from the fab Guillermo Del Toro
Also see Pans Labyrynth
Brilliant, bittersweet, satisfying film - not for horror lovers though - By: Florence, 18 Nov 2008 This is a brilliant film, up there with his "Pan's Labyrinth" & even better than "Devil's Backbone" which it in some ways resembles - a ghost story involving a children's home. A film about the fierce love between parent & child, which transcends death. I loved the bittersweet ending. It is not a horror film, so if you like horror movies, choose something else.
Eerie - By: Fredward Beasley, 10 Nov 2008 
The Orphanage is a psychological ghost story with a classic set-up involving nervy woman, empty old house, creepy kids; it is especiallly reminiscent of The Others but also of many other films like Don't Look Now & The Haunting & Henry James' classic novella The Turn of the Screw, which seems to have given rise to this whole subgenre of films. The Orphanage is far superior to the Others, in my opinion; Belen Rueda gives a far better performance than Kidman, not least because her face has retained the power to register emotion, which Kidman's has not. There are many exceptionallly creepy moments, & a brilliantly-maintained eerie atmosphere as well as a very effective use of music & sound. In short, I found this to be one of the most effective horror films of the last few years, a ghost story in the classic style, very well-made on every level.
