Pretty good,but not as masterful as many people claim.

Rating: 8/10 (12 March 2008)

The story of "El Orfanato" begins with a family moving into an old orphanage with the intent of opening their own place for kids.As soon as they get there,their HIV+ adopted son starts seeing "imaginary" friends.Then one day Simon goes missing and the parents don't know what to do, which starts a downward spiral for the wife...Very well-made ghost story that offers its share of creepiness.The ghost children are not particularly spooky or threatening and the film feels rather tame for a rated-R flick.The plot is also pretty predictable and influenced by Del Toro's "The Devil's Backbone" and Argento's "Suspiria","Deep Red" and "Phenomena".Still the direction is splendid and the acting is believable.However if you claim that "El Orfanato" is the creepiest horror flick ever made you are clearly delusional.