Haunting masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (1 April 2008)

This is a truly great film. I love horror films and I like watching the cheap horrors with no story lines but it's so refreshing to find a horror film that works beautifully as a film as well.
My favourite horror film is The Exorcist and The Orphange is in the same league. It doesn't rely solely on cheap shocks or gore, but instead creates a constant atmosphere of unease and fear. It's slow-paced, but when the climaxes come, they are riveting.
The film is about parent/child relationships and how far a parent would go to save their child. It's about the spirit world and its relationship with the living world. It's about overcoming your fears and facing your past.
It's haunting. It's the type of film that will stay with you long after you've left the cinema. It's a great example of how much fear you can create without having to show too much.