Chilled me to the bone

Rating: 9/10 (16 April 2008)

There are horror movies that bang you over the head with gore and blood and entrails, and there are horror movies that entice you in slowly with atmosphere and silence and dread. "El Orfanato" is definitely one of the latter. I would hesitate to even call "El Orfanato" a horror movie, but it chilled me to the bone.
If you are wanting gore, see you around, guys! You will be happier somewhere else. Other than one small in-your-face moment, there is no gore in this movie. It is much subtler than that.
I intend to give nothing away of the plot. You need to let it unfold yourself. "El Orfanato" is about atmosphere and quiet and dread. The horror of something hidden in the dark. The sound of something on the stairs. The whisper of children's voices, when there are no children present. The chill of something passing close by. The dead. The forgotten. Secrets long buried.
I thought that "El Orfanato" was a genuine, modern, supernatural masterpiece. Really I did. I am a big boy. I don't get scared watching movies, not anymore, but "El Orfanato", got me holding on tight to the armrest of my seat.
Great movie.