The Orphanage (2008)

O Masterpiece
X Excellent
O Rental
O OK
O Mediocrity
O Avoid

Review by Jason Pyles / January 30, 2008

“The Orphanage” is almost a masterpiece but not quite. Why not? Because it astounds then lulls, astounds then lulls. Had it been able to maintain its astonishing qualities throughout, or at least a pace that doesn’t drag, then “The Orphanage” would surely have been a masterpiece.

Even so, it’s still excellent. Notice its MPAA rating is “R.” Now notice why it’s rated R: “for some disturbing content.” This means that “The Orphanage,” which has no nudity, sex, excessive profanity or graphic violence, is rated R basically for its “creepiness” … and rightly so.

I don’t get scared at movies; at least, I thought I didn’t. But I was notably anxious during “The Orphanage.” It’s not that it’s scary, as much as it’s creepy. In fact, “The Orphanage” is the creepiest movie I’ve seen since “The Exorcist” (1973) or “Pet Semetary” (1989). Remember Zelda, the twisted, sick sister that was hidden away “like a dirty secret”?

And yet, “The Orphanage” is not a slasher film, nor would I even call it a horror film. It is a potent, effective thriller, as well as a mystery. But here’s the part you’re not going to believe: In all actuality, “The Orphanage” is essentially a haunted house, ghost movie!

Last June, in my review of “1408,” I wrote that I couldn’t think of a haunted house movie that is truly good. Then, an insightful, anonymous commentator replied that Alejandro Amenabar’s “The Others” (2001) is a haunted house movie that is truly good. And I had to agree. Now, we can confidently add “The Orphanage” to that short list.

Laura (Belen Rueda) lived at the Good Shepherd Orphanage as a child until she was adopted. Later, as an adult, she and her husband buy the dilapidated, uninhabited orphanage and plan to remodel it. They have a 7-year-old son named Simon (Roger Princep) who is HIV positive and also adopted. The couple plan to take care of their son, as well as other special-needs children.

But there’s a problem. Awful things have happened at this orphanage, and awful things are yet to happen. Simon, who’s known to have imaginary friends, claims to have new companions, much to his skeptical parents’ displeasure. They play games with Simon, who draws pictures of the unseen children for his parents to see. One of them called Thomas (Oscar Casas) wears a strange sack on his head.

Inexplicable events begin to unfold. An elderly lady who claims to be a social worker starts coming to the orphanage. Also, one day Simon vanishes. “The Orphanage” follows Laura’s desperate search for her ill son and her discovery of the orphanage’s past, including Simon’s mysterious little friends.

Set in Spain, “The Orphanage” is filmed in Spanish with English subtitles. If you have an aversion to subtitles, which many do, overcome it and see this film. Sensitive viewers might be distressed by its “disturbing content,” some of which is freak-accident-related, but you can always close your eyes for a second.

“The Orphanage” doesn’t settle for those cheap, overdone Gotcha! moments designed to keep the audience on edge. I’m not claiming there aren’t jumpy surprises, but these are done well and relevant to the plot. The suspense and dread that mount in “The Orphanage” come from its superior screenplay, set design, costumes, cinematography and overall directing. For example, watch carefully how the camera pans back and forth, left and right, when the adult Laura is playing the knocking-on-the-wall game of tag. Also, notice how the creepy film footage within the film itself puts to shame anything we saw from “The Ring” (2002).

No spoilers follow: The end of “The Orphanage” seems to be an attempt to please every audience member. Its ambiguity allows us to understand it however we wish; but I believe there is still a “right answer,” and I believe I’ve arrived at it after pondering the film.

“The Orphanage” gave me some of the biggest jumps I’ve had in the theater. It was a memorable viewing experience. Not only did the projectionist accidentally begin with “27 Dresses,” he or she played the first 10 minutes of “The Orphanage” twice. And when I left the theater, a blizzard had befallen our town and buried my car. But I was glad; the inclement weather gave me something less eerie to think about on my drive home at 12:30 a.m.

Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona
Belen Rueda / Roger Princep / Oscar Casas
Thriller / Mystery 100 min.
MPAA: R (for some disturbing content)

U.S. Release Date: January 11, 2008
Copyright 2008: 228