A masterpiece.

Rating: 10/10 (4 July 2014)

Guillermo del Toro has crafted a masterpiece, a brutal, terrifying fairytale for adults who watch in anticipation as the events in the film unfold. The lead features a strong, adventurous child named Ofelia who discovers a Faun and that a fairytale world. It is everything she dreamt of.
This remarkable film spins a tale about a little girl trapped between a dream world of ghouls and real-life monsters during the Spanish Civil War, and it works remarkably well, simultaneously enchanting and horrifying with almost every frame. It's dark and horrifying appealing to an older audience yet shows the hardships of that time.
The actors are all stable in their roles and Doug Jones as the El Fauno is stunning. The costumes are something else that entice me, especially El Fauno who looks as though he is part of the Earth from which he probably came. There are roughly 2 plot lines running in parallel; the military-resistance story and the princess fantasy story. Both move back and forth as needed. Each storyline connects smoothly and is easy for the audience to follow.