Great mix which result in a great movie

Rating: 10/10 (31 August 2008)

I watched this one in the sneak preview, not too long ago. Ever since I'm telling everyone who wants to hear it, to watch this movie. Why? Well, first of because it's the very first time in like 11 years a movie managed to frighten me so much, I had to scream.
I'm a huge fan of Asian horrors like Ringu and The Eye (SO I DO NOT MEAN THOSE TERRIBLE REMAKES!!!) because they are working in your mind. Unlike America, whose obviously trying to scare you with visual effects, Asian horror is crawling deep inside your psyche, making you nervous, like you feel the need to look over your shoulder constantly. They don't depend on make-up and let's be honest, can you really be scared by some zombie who's walking like 5 miles per hour, with the make-up falling from his face? I'm not scared one bit by them. So that's where Asian horror is far better than American horror. But then there's El Orfanato. This one doesn't depend on make-up either, nor does it depend on computer animation like many ghost stories of American origin do. So that's one big plus, if you ask me.
Then there's the music. They make very good use of music and timing, just like those freaky Asian dudes. So again: America has to watch and learn. Listen and learn.
And then there's this story. At first sight it doesn't look like much of a great story and in fact it isn't, it's the same old, same old, but even though it's not that great, they manage to work it out completely magnificent. The story in fact is kind of cliché and when you read it, I bet you don't have great expectations of this movie and I can't blame you, but once you've watched it to the end, I hope you'll agree with me and say: Wow! I'm totally blown away! It's just... well how do I say that? It's moving in a way I've never experienced in a ghost story before. Most of the ghost story movies I know of, are just meant to frighten you and that's it. El Orfanato isn't like that. It wants to frighten you and it did and it did good, but there's more to this movie than just superficial dark rooms and doors that opens and closes by themselves. It's moving, it's tragic, it's a mother with a terrible feeling of guilt and despair, and you're feeling with her. That's also because of the great way of acting, but the story does a lot too.
Well, I find it difficult to explain, especially because English isn't my main language, but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. WATCH IT! Watch it and let it get to you. It's... yes it's beautiful.