Beautiful story hidden underneath a grotesque setting

Rating: 9/10 (8 February 2020)

MILD MILD SPOILERS .... ( I might mention some spoilery things but only for those who, like me, want to know what kind of things to expect from the movie without being spoiled of it all)
When this movie first came out I wasn't into the horror genre as I am now. When I didn't ignore it I simply though of it as "oh look, another horror movie with a first-innocent-but-then-crazy-type of little girl (Exorcist style)". Never have I been more wrong to misjudge a director's vision.
Guillermo del Toro's movie has that subtle portrayal of a fairy tale hidden underneath the harsh and turmoiling times of war. As a spaniard I felt the over romanticization of the two sides of the Spanish Civil War was not accurate to the impact both sides had to the overall outcome of the war and is exaggerated to have a more nazi-vs-allies sort of setting to the story. Like in every war, both sides are not exempt from carrying out criminal and outrageous acts against humanity. The Nationals may have done some aweful things but the republicans are not as innocent as depicted. I'm not trying to choose sides here but rather express that things are not always black and white but shades of grey.
But for the sake of the story we will assume this is a StarWars-Empire-vs-Rebels sort of setting and we will look pass the historic accuracy to engage with the real true story being told. Del Toro managed to create such a captivating fairy tale that connects with a lot of character design, grotesque aesthetic and fairy tale-tropes-inspired choices that make it unique and very nostalgic to those who have read classic fairytale books inspired by Hans Christian Andersen and the Grimm brothers.
The ending is amazing, leaving the audience wondering if whether all that happened to the girl was real or not (although if you want to know you can as the director answered it in an interview.....). All in all, this movie made me realise how wrong I was to prejudge a movie on the first instance instead of giving it a try and seeing where it lead to. And besides the historic accuracy part of the movie, it is a well-rounded deeply-felt movie that filled me with inspiration and wonder. A highly recommended movie if you can see pass the grotesque and at times horrorific aspects of it (like the skin creature blegh, although I think that was meant to be that way)