Beautifully directed movie

Rating: 10/10 (6 May 2019)

Guillermo del Toro has recreated a historical time period with a fantastic story. The movie begins with the humming of a gloomy tune, which helps to set the mood and scene for the rest of the film. After this but still towards the beginning, the orchestra allowed for the magical atmosphere when Ofelia is introduced to certain mystical elements, such as the fairy disguised as a stick bug. The music in the remainder of the film was, for the most part, dark and dramatic. Using this type of music created suspense and made the creatures even more frightening. It also builds up and matches the twisted character of Captain Vidal, who is responsible for many horrific actions. Finally, the lullaby from the film shared a familiar tone and melody to those that are often hummed by grandmothers and mothers to their children.
The camera movements primarily function as a guide for the audience's attention. It leads them to become aware of certain elements that could have gone unnoticed otherwise. The way that the camera zooms in to objects helps viewer's notice minor details that later become significant to the plot of the story. It also contributes to the dramatic mood of certain scenes, such as when the stick bug flies into view from the statue's mouth. The camera movements aligned the viewer's perspective with that of the character, such as when Ofelia looks at the eye from the statue.
The costume and make-up of the film help illustrate the setting for the time period. It also distinguishes the various roles of characters, such as Vidal, the fascist captain and antagonist. His routine of shining his boots and regularly shaving his face shows his obsessive and controlling nature. Vidal and his men wear clean, blue-grey uniforms, which reinforce the coldness and social superiority of those characters. Ofelia's clothing primarily consists of greenish hues, which give the impression that she is down-to-earth, and modest styles that are appropriate for her age. The green also appears to embrace her in the same way she surrounds herself with nature.
The creatures have distinct characteristics. For example, the Pale Man is very tall and has sagging skin, with eyes on its hands. This horrific image is appropriate for the mood of the movie. The faun, on the other hand, is a round character who has the ability to display gentleness and wrath. His physical form is very texturized and contains elements of "the mountain, the forest, and the earth," making him appear more ancient or wise. The costumes and makeup have significant impacts on the presentation of each scene.