In a world where fantasy struggles to escape reality...

Rating: 9/10 (20 January 2007)

enters this dark tale of one little girl's desire to flee from the harsh realm that she is thrust into. The tone is eerie and the colors of the film reflect the tremulous nature of Ofelia's surroundings. Ofelia had lost her father, her mother re-marries the sadistic Captain, and she is taken from the city where the threat of attack looms like the grisly environment that envelopes their encampment. Where the forest should be full of life and color, drab tones and mythical creatures creep amongst the shadows. What little girl would not want to find a way to escape such a place.
Ofelia's imagination and the creation of her own fairy tale are derived from the very sad and dark place that she has been brought up to know. As her mother's condition worsens and the evil in the "real world" escalates the fantasies that are intertwined with the story become haunting. The world of fantasy is a place that Ofelia alone must encounter and may be her only salvation.
The acting is exceptional, across the board. I cannot say that one performance stuck out over another, it was as if they put all personal emotion into their performances that they embodied the characters. The visuals, special effects, and the subtle score amplify the tension and beauty that this film has to offer. The story itself left me thinking long after I left the theater and the overall project is very impressive.
It is a grim tale and not a light hearted movie that is easy to digest all at once. I do definitely recommend the film and applaud Mr. Del Toro's efforts