One of those horror films that genuinely moves you.

Rating: 8/10 (13 October 2013)

As scripted by Sergio G. Sanchez and directed by J.A. Bayona, "El Orfanato" a.k.a. "The Orphanage" is a haunting, beautiful, and poetic horror tale. It derives its impact from being so utterly rich in emotion and for drenching it in genuine atmosphere rather going for the purely visceral impact - or relying too heavily on the jump scare. The performances, the writing, and the directing are very sensitive and you can completely get on the side of the lead character. And you're discovering things with her rather than being one step ahead the entire time. This is one film that could very well be described as a journey. And when it's all over, it will definitely stay with you.
Gorgeous Belen Rueda stars as Laura, a young woman who lives with her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) in what used to be the orphanage where she dwelled as a child. They seem to have a happy life with adopted son Simon (adorable Roger Princep), but haven't actually told the truth to the kid, either that he's sick (he's HIV positive) or that they're his adoptive parents and not his biological ones. She's concerned because of his association with imaginary friends, but things take an even darker one when the boy disappears from a costume party. It's up to Laura to find Simon and to probe the mysteries of this orphanage.
Enhanced by a lovely score by Fernando Velazquez, "El Orfanato" is deliberately paced but rewarding for patient viewers. It entirely hinges on the acting and the mood and in fact doesn't feature that much in the way of visual effects. There is a real sense of sadness throughout, and despair, and one can completely sympathize with Laura and Simon. The film is reasonably spooky, especially when paranormal experts and a medium (played by guest star Geraldine Chaplin) try to get in contact with the restless spirits of the piece; instead of making us see with our eyes what she is describing, it forces us to use our imagination. The final act is all about Laura as she isolates herself and attempts to recreate the past in order to unlock its secrets.
Ultimately a satisfying experience, "El Orfanato" would come highly recommended to those genre fans wishing for films more in the mold of "The Haunting" (1963) and "The Others".
Eight out of 10.