Nerve-Wracking, Beautiful, Scary - a Ghost Story and a Parable

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2008)

What do we forget as we grow older? What becomes of the people we leave in our past? Can we go home again?
What if you never grew up?
These are a few questions you may ask of yourself as you leave the theater after "The Orphanage." This film is equal parts dark-fantasy and ghost-story, a parable for the beloved kid's tale Peter Pan as well as a tale of spectral children. Very suspenseful, this film does a wonderful job luring you into genuine jump moments hook, line and sinker, and at the same time crafts a beautiful story.
Our characters are developed with care, whether living or dead. We are slowly brought into a world where we find conflicting emotions and motivations, as nothing happens without a reason or a message. These are ghosts that will scare you and keep you jumping, but they are real characters as opposed to the monsters waiting in the dark.
This film is an archetypal hero's journey, where our protagonist is drawn into a world of mystery at a careful pace, shuddering at times to leave us guessing, and rolling along at a terrifying clip at others. There is always a lot going on, leaving viewers to wonder who can see what, or more importantly, who can understand the dark world around them.
There is enough intrigue, suspense, terror, and real emotion in "The Orphanage" to leave it on a short list of damn near perfect movies. Here is a rare occasion where concept, story, and execution come together in resounding harmony to sing a haunting and heartfelt song.