One of the greatest and scariest ghost stories of all time.

Rating: 9/10 (24 July 2008)

when I was about the age of 7 till about 11 horror films never ceased to scare the living day lights out of me. However over the years I've developed a love for horror films and because of this love I feel that horror films no longer make me jump out of my seat like they use to.
However when I first watched the trailer to the orphanage I knew that this film was going to be different from all the other ghostly horror films. The child alone with the sake over his face sent chills down my spine, so naturally I had to see this film of course I couldn't go see this film alone so I dragged my girl friend along to witness this new ghost thriller.
the last time I jumped in the cinema because of a film was the time I went to go see White Noise . the orphanage however managed to do this but also caused me to spill my own popcorn as well which in itself shows how well this film can scare.
The orphanage is set in a Spanish country next to a beautiful beach where a large house lays looking over the beach, this grand house use to be an orphanage. And now a women, who once lived there, and her husband have come to buy it and re-open it for another orphanage for young disabled children. However things aren't quite what they seem and the plot thickens as her young child Thomas, disappears.
the great thing about this film is the timing much like the timing on alien, we are giving the time to get to know and be brought closer to the characters so when things do start to go wrong we almost feel for them. nothing terrifying happens to about roughly 20 minutes into the film, which is great because you are constantly wondering when something is about to happen and the film lets no indication to when it does.
Overall this is a great spooky film that'll keep you on the edge of your seats liturgy and will keep you guessing to which direction the plot will turn next. However if you easily get annoyed by subtitles than sadly you will not be able to enjoy this film for the whole film is set and spoken in Spanish by real Spanish actors.
But if you don't subtitles or your even know Spanish and are looking for a horror film with a great story than this is the film for you.