Interesting Spanish "haunted house" story...

Rating: 6/10 (20 June 2008)

This is a Spanish language "haunted house" movie with some creepy moments. Belén Rueda plays Laura, who buys as a home with her husband, the orphanage which she used to live in, for a while, as a child. With her is her young son Simón, played by Roger Príncep. Simón has "the shining", if I can phrase it that way (a reference to another haunted house movie, "The Shining", which I've reviewed here too). What this means is that Simón seems to be able to perceive ghosts. Of course, the old orphanage has some dark secrets which hang darkly over Laura's new home. When Simón goes missing, you wonder how much credence to give the supernatural overtones of the movie.
There is some intellectual stimulation to be had in this movie...the mystery of the orphanage's dark secrets and the fate of Laura's boy. However, I did find myself not really connecting on an emotional level with the story. If you've ever watched the British sketch show "The fast show", you'll be familiar with the machine gun delivery of the Spanish language. Fortunately, the subtitles are a bit easier to follow!
Whether you are a sceptic or a believer in the paranormal, there is bound to be some redeeming features in this movie. I especially liked the 'pay off' at the end, re the eventual fate of Simón. The film is a bit enigmatic and will provide some fat to chew over after the ending. And that ain't bad.
This movie isn't a gore fest-it's more a psychological drama, and it has a 'slow burn' pacing to it, so bear that in mind if you see it. Creepy at times, and intriguing.