A great ghost story

Rating: 8/10 (2 April 2008)

Ooooh, a good old fashioned ghost story! With Del Toro producing you say? Sold! This is the kind of movie that Hollywood very rarely gets right, which might explain why they're so intent on remaking other people's films. This isn't about hand on the shoulder/cat in the cupboard jump scares or masked men with knives spraying blood all over the set, this is quality honest to goodness suspense and creaking dread, with an atmosphere that'll linger with you longer than any of that decapitato-porn people keep insisting is scary. It's never terrifying, but the constant sense of unease is masterful, making this a treat of sustained suspense.
It's not perfect, there's some moments which could have been a lot creepier if handled slightly differently, but for the most part the restraint on show is admirable, and it's shot in a way that imbues the orphanage itself with a sinister character of it's own. Well worth a watch for fans of the supernatural or just fans of good cinema in general.