“Meet the Spartans” was not showing at the Angelika Theatre Saturday night when this critic went out to see a movie, instead he ventured into Guillermo Del Toro’s newest creation “El Orfanato” (“The Orphanage”).
Laura wants to become the caretaker of the orphanage she grew up in as a child. Abandoned and desolate for many years, the orphanage is reopening under her supervision along with the help of her husband Carlos and their 7-year-old adopted son, Simon.
During the upkeep of the house, Simon takes on five imaginary friends. These friends introduce him to games, ideas and information he was unaware of. But on opening day, something twisted, eerie and disturbing happens. Tomas, one of Simon’s imaginary friends, appears to Laura and locks her in the bathroom beginning a game that takes on deadly consequences.
Set in modern day Spain, “The Orphanage” is a story about life, the afterlife and the medium between the two. Reality and illusion become tangled in a confusing game of cat and mouse. Who’s to say what is real and what isn’t? This mind play stirs viewers hours following the film’s end.
The beauty of the film isn’t in the location or the cinematography but the subtle hints in the story that bring it full circle. Crafting such a delicate balance between reality and illusion is a tricky game, which could easily be swayed to the conscious life or subconscious mind. Leaving the audience stumbling out the door makes this such a great flick.
There are no overly gruesome blood-squirting sequences to gross out, but what does seep in is the true-to-life disfigured bodies. The heart breaks with every step ventured into the orphanage, leaving a disgusted feeling and irritation at the little moments in life.
Since this is a Spanish movie, it is in Espanol. Moviegoers will be reading subtitles throughout the entire movie, but have no worries – this isn’t a heavily dialogued film. Del Toro uses silence and suspense to hit you when you’re already hurting.
“The Orphanage” is a well-crafted, imaginative, and suspenseful masterpiece. The Angelika is a drive from Commerce, but well worth it. Along with student prices, there is a coffee shop and bar in the theatre; feel free to take any of their beverages in for the film. Make an evening of it; it’ll be a enjoyable experience.