big let down

Rating: 4/10 (1 August 2008)

I've always been a fan of foreign language films. And, I've also been a fan of horror films. So I was really looking forward to The Orphanage as I felt that the film had the potential to be a great thrill fest.
But despite this, I was left thinking what might have been and slightly baffled as to why this film was such a let down. Directed by Spanish first timer Juan Antonio Bayona, the film see's Laura, who grew up an orphan herself, raising her adopted son Simón with her husband Carlos in an old house and former orphanage where she was raised. Simón is HIV positive, and both parents hope that the boy can settle in well to his new surroundings. All seems to be going well until Simon tells Laura that he has five invisible friends. Taking on her husbands advice that their son is only trying to escape boredom by inventing these 'friends', Laura laughs off her sons comment and seems happy to play along with it. But in true horror movie style, things start to go 'bump in the night', and Laura begins to wonder if in fact, they are alone. And on the day that she officially re-opens the orphanage for disabled children, Simon is kidnapped, which leads his parents and the police on to a wild goose chase in the hope of his safe return. It all sounds like a great premise to a good movie, and while the Orphanage isn't all that bad, there are quite simply not enough big moments in the film to warrant it a five star rating. Many of the supposed edge of your seat scenes are a let down, the creepy old woman, who for some reason feels that she would be useful with a shovel, is just annoying, and the film goes for long sequences that produce absolutely nothing.
I do have to give credit where it's due though. Belena Rueda, who plays Laura, is terrific throughout, and some of the cinematography is excellent, but folks, if you want a good spooky story about a haunted house, go rent The Others again.