Finally a horror type film without gore or bloody violence.

Rating: 10/10 (25 April 2008)

My summary is accurate BUT not how I really should describe this excellent drama.
Guilleremo Del Toro the producer/director of Pan's Labrynth is the producer of THE ORPHANAGE, but I am sure he was looking over this film like a legendary producer of the past( David O.Selznick)used to do.
The directorial reigns were handed to first time director Juan Berona. Mr. Berona did an excellent job for his first full feature .
Setting is a very large old house which was at one time an orphanage.
It just happens to be the new home of a nice married couple & there adorable 7 year old son. It turns out that said wife grew up in this place & has happy memories (we do see her last day as a child here in the opening scene. The young 7 year old seems to have imaginary friends that he finds in this house.. A while later at a party the lad just seems to have disappeared. The rest of the film is about the mothers search for her missing son amongst other things in her once happy secure life.
Belon Rueda is the fine Spanish actress who portrays this women. I personally feel she was cheated out of an Oscar nomination for her superb performance. The entire cast is excellent as well. Geraldine Chaplin has a brief role & is excellent.
As I said in my summary (above) there is next to no violence & no bloody gore or zombies like you find in other generic horror films.At times this film is very spooky & even scary, & there was a point I said out loud 'dont go down the stairs''
All the production credits are first rate.Many of the craft technicians were first times like the director. Obviously the producer Mr.Del Toro supervised in fine fashion. ( ala the legendary Selznick--for those who do not know he produced Gone With The Wind & Duel in the Sun---2 classic movies.)
I do not recommend this for small children or for those who want gore & more gore.
Ratings **** (out of 4) 98 points (out of 100) IMDb 10 (out of 10)