The Devil's Backbone

I love when the scariest thing in a movie is what's happening off screen. GDT is the king of gut-wrenching, transformative horror. So many of his movies are nostalgic, set against a back drop of a larger than life conflict while bringing up questions about destiny, choice, and establishment. I first watched this leading up to the 2017 election in my senior film arts class. I was 17, about to become a child of divorce, and making choices I didn't have the life experience to be making. Watching this movie made me sad. I remember being captivated by the unexploded bomb, a constant reminder within the walls of the orphanage that a war was waging around them. I felt so much sympathy for the fictional orphans, who had their own drama and terrors beyond the war. I saw pieces of myself in this movie as a child who was going through adult situations, without guidance. I love it so much, GDT has been a favorite of mine since watching this and my love has only grown. To get down to the nitty gritty, this movie explores ghosts in a way that reminds me old Japanese horror which is really cool and different compared to Paranormal Activities style ghost-stories. I think the score and sound effects added to the movie and were really well done, the atmosphere is spooky, and I love the water visuals and sense of innocence the orphans maintain. I will double-feature this in the future with Pan's Labyrinth. Hooptober X