beautiful but highly disturbing

Rating: 9/10 (19 January 2007)

I wish I had been more prepared for the nature of this film before seeing it. The U.S. marketing scheme really plays up a fantasy/fairy tale angle, and completely downplays the absolute sadism and lingering brutal violence that is really the heart and soul of this movie. Del Toro may in fact be a marvelously talented director, but his vision of the world is simply too disturbing and upsetting for me to take. There is very little that qualifies this film as fantasy; rather, it is a (brilliantly and beautifully rendered) reflection of the very real nihilism and hopelessness that has infiltrated much contemporary art, particularly cinema. The performances are deeply troubling in their simplicity and subtlety. I would not take any child to see this (not implying that that was Del Toro's intent). Fear and violence invade every frame from start to finish. However, it is a testament to the skill of Del Toro that its images and vision will not soon leave my mind.