An excellent example of how to make a scary movie.

Rating: 9/10 (24 July 2008)

I saw an ad for this movie and decided to check it out while it was still in theaters awhile ago. Since then I've seen it on DVD two more times. So let's talk about what makes this movie so good, shall we? First of all, it is a legitimately scary movie filled with suspense. This movie graciously delivers us from the dark pit that we were cast into by "horror movies" like Saw, Turistas, Hostel, Wolf Creek, and others that are all essentially the same, and rely solely on gore and gross-out techniques rather than creating creepy atmospheres, having compelling stories, or any other things that typically would make a movie interesting. It is a refreshing change to see a horror movie put out that isn't a glorified snuff film.
Indeed, this movie is more reminiscent of films like The Shining, films with brilliant cinematography and acting that play on our fears, rather than our revulsions, to incite terror in the viewer.
Of course there will be the people who refuse to see this movie because all of the dialog is in Spanish. Their loss, I guess.
Another brilliant thing about this movie is that at the end, the viewer has no questions left unanswered. Everything is explained, yet the movie is still open to the viewer's own interpretations.
I highly recommend that people looking for a good scary movie, but aren't into "torture porn" flicks, check out The Orphanage/El Orfanato.
9/10