In fantasy, you have to believe reality

Rating: 9/10 (19 October 2006)

Pan's Labyrinth tempts you in from the first beautiful second. Rather like entering a labyrinth you quickly leave the light and enter dark, mysterious tunnels which promise a new shock around each corner, both fantastical and brutally human. This is not a labyrinth you would take a child.
Sergi Lopez broods a performance so devilishly vile the audience literally recoiled when he was on screen. His blood chilling psycopath in fascist breeches should walk him into the Oscar running, if not he should consider taking his toolbox around to the Academy members and asking them why not.
The rest of the cast perform with subtle class, especially the young girl who proves that young actors do not need to be force fed sugar cubes for 6 months before shooting. Credit for this must go to the Director who is, for me anyway, deserving of all the acclaim he is receiving.
The film is unrelenting in its turns into fantasy and back again, flashing us back into into cruelty of real life.
My only fear is that its stark violence and Spanish language might restrict the size of its audience. This is, of course, what makes the film all the more special. It is wonderfully believable and in fantasy, that is truly everything.