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Amazon.co.uk Review
As Guillermo Del Toro films go The Devil’s Backbone is a defining moment in his career, breaching the gap between International Art House and mainstream Hollywood success, it being his last film before Blade 2. Based within an orphanage during the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s, the film is driven by its characters and, just like his previous films (Cronos and Mimic), it draws on the supernatural to outline and re-define exactly what it is that drives them.
Although Del Toro insists that this is not a film about the Civil War, by trapping and threatening its inhabitants the orphanage inevitably becomes a mirror for the events outside. These four walls become a place of protection for boys who have been orphaned during the war, a place for them to lead a relatively normal existence full of school life, bullying and adventure. Their main source of the latter being Santi, a young ghost who haunts the halls looking for revenge for his recent murder. Yet the pivotal character who evokes real fear in the children is not the spirit, but the greedy, selfish Jacinto (Eduardo Noriega), a former orphan, whose experiences have left him with deep emotional scars. With a strong cast and even stronger imagery (created by cinematographer Guillermo Navarro) Del Toro whips up a hauntingly effective film about love, life and the afterlife.
On the DVD: entering the extras literally through the keyhole, there are several opportunities to obtain a deeper understanding of this disturbing film. A "Behind the Scenes" featurette includes the cast’s own character profiles and interpretation of the story, as well as Del Toro explaining his thoughts about the film and how he achieved some shots. Two of the sequences—"Aerial Bombardment" and "The Ghost"--can be seen in further technical detail, with film footage and computer animation combined to make a whole scene. A selection of storyboards can also be viewed which run alongside the soundtrack to the scene, with the option to intercut between storyboard and finished film. A theatrical trailer, a picture gallery and written biographies are standard. The film and additional features are in Spanish with English subtitles and menu. With Dolby 5:1 sound and a widescreen picture, the film not only looks and sounds, but also feels fantastically chilling. --Nikki Disney
Special Features
Wide Screen
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1
Special effect Sequence Breakdown
Storyboard To Screen Sequences
Behind The Scenes Featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Potimum Trailer Showreel
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1
Special effect Sequence Breakdown
Storyboard To Screen Sequences
Behind The Scenes Featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Potimum Trailer Showreel
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
46 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Sometimes it is a genuine joy to see a good old fashioned genre done so well that it takes your breath away, and so I am proud to present for your consideration The Devils Backbone, as effective and full blooded a ghost story as you are ever likely to see.
Written and directed by Guillermo Del Toro, the mastermind behind such fantastic pieces of cinema as Cronos and Pans Labyrinth, as well as the slightly disappointing super-hero movies Blade 2 and Hellboy (hey, even the best of us can make a mistake), the film centres around Carlos (Fernando Tielve). The year is 1939 and the Spanish Civil War is coming to its bloody end. Carlos is brought to an isolated orphanage by his tutor and guardian where he is left, unaware that his father, a Republican, has been slain in the war. Carlos accepts his fate, but life is anything but simple for him, in spite of the presence of the kindly Dr Casares (Federico Luppi), as young Carlos must contend with bullying from some of the other boys and the attentions of the sadistic caretaker Jacinto (Eduardo Noriega). But these tribulations are as nothing when Carlos becomes the focus of attention for a ghost that haunts the orphanage, the ghost of a fellow orphan Santi, who disappeared (or died) in mysterious circumstances, and appears to Carlos to warn him that "many will die". As the war closes in on the orphanage and much of Santi's warning comes to pass, the orphans must band together to fight the real evil that threatens them.
This is both a superb ghost story, a riveting drama and a coming of age tale all rolled into one, and the isolated location of the orphanage coupled with the impending threat of violence, from the war, from the bullies, from Jacinto or from the ghostly warnings of Santi, give the film an almost unbearable sense of tension and dread. And when true horror is visited upon the orphanage and the boys must band together, the film becomes a morality tale as well as a study of what people are capable of in the most dire of circumstances (shades of Lord of the Flies methinks).
The film is never less than beautiful to look at, and Del Toro uses an economy of direction, avoiding showy special effects and letting the story do all the work for him, pulling a series of superb performances from his cast, in particular Federico Luppi as Dr Casares, a kind and dignified man who promises never to abandon the boys, and remains true to his word throughout the film, and Eduardo Noriega as Jacinto, a terrific study of sadistic bullying and greed, as well as abandonment and loss. This film is easily the equal of anything Del Toro has done previously, and something of a companion piece to his following movie, the justly celebrated Pans Labyrinth. By turns beautiful, atmospheric and when it wants to be, scary as hell.
Written and directed by Guillermo Del Toro, the mastermind behind such fantastic pieces of cinema as Cronos and Pans Labyrinth, as well as the slightly disappointing super-hero movies Blade 2 and Hellboy (hey, even the best of us can make a mistake), the film centres around Carlos (Fernando Tielve). The year is 1939 and the Spanish Civil War is coming to its bloody end. Carlos is brought to an isolated orphanage by his tutor and guardian where he is left, unaware that his father, a Republican, has been slain in the war. Carlos accepts his fate, but life is anything but simple for him, in spite of the presence of the kindly Dr Casares (Federico Luppi), as young Carlos must contend with bullying from some of the other boys and the attentions of the sadistic caretaker Jacinto (Eduardo Noriega). But these tribulations are as nothing when Carlos becomes the focus of attention for a ghost that haunts the orphanage, the ghost of a fellow orphan Santi, who disappeared (or died) in mysterious circumstances, and appears to Carlos to warn him that "many will die". As the war closes in on the orphanage and much of Santi's warning comes to pass, the orphans must band together to fight the real evil that threatens them.
This is both a superb ghost story, a riveting drama and a coming of age tale all rolled into one, and the isolated location of the orphanage coupled with the impending threat of violence, from the war, from the bullies, from Jacinto or from the ghostly warnings of Santi, give the film an almost unbearable sense of tension and dread. And when true horror is visited upon the orphanage and the boys must band together, the film becomes a morality tale as well as a study of what people are capable of in the most dire of circumstances (shades of Lord of the Flies methinks).
The film is never less than beautiful to look at, and Del Toro uses an economy of direction, avoiding showy special effects and letting the story do all the work for him, pulling a series of superb performances from his cast, in particular Federico Luppi as Dr Casares, a kind and dignified man who promises never to abandon the boys, and remains true to his word throughout the film, and Eduardo Noriega as Jacinto, a terrific study of sadistic bullying and greed, as well as abandonment and loss. This film is easily the equal of anything Del Toro has done previously, and something of a companion piece to his following movie, the justly celebrated Pans Labyrinth. By turns beautiful, atmospheric and when it wants to be, scary as hell.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Plot:
10 yr-old Carlos arrives at a Spanish school sheltering the orphans of the Republican militia only to discover it has many supernatural secrets.
My Review:
Albeit that Pan's Labyrinth did undoubtedly well, take it amongst yourselves to watch the first and second in Del Toro' magical trilogy. This second in a trilogy revolves around a group of boys and this time, an old-fashioned wartime ghost story. This not just because that dir. Del Toro's has a hovering and poignant ghost story to tell that harnesses more substance, 'jump-factor', and is executed with rather more style than the whole number of Hollywood' asinine lack lusting scare movies, but recent work for a major studio, working in Mimic, allowed Del Toro to refresh himself.
Our protagonist is a 10 yr-old Carlos (Fernando Tielve) who doesn't take on being bullied so easily, even after being abandoned in the school by his fathers friend and picked on since day one, all those who remember starting a new school will connect and laugh with this young witty troublesome attraction and to his likable friends that refuse to boycott him. Del Toro manages to yet again swindle directing children to startling effect. No corny-ness, but with all the decent, funny and if not typical young-to-teenage boy idiosyncrasies, that range from comics, model cars and dirty pictures.
Providing the support and adult figures to some of the disobedient children, is headmistress Carmen (Marisa Paredes), whom isn't hard, demeaning or strict but reluctant to take on more kids, she's tough despite the effect the war has had on her. The likable Dr. Casares (Federico Luppi) who provides assistance and understanding to the boys and Carlos in particular when the vivid appearances of a school-boy ghost 'Santi' make claim. He is warm-hearted and passionate towards his job, and gets to defend its keep from a man Jacinto (Eduardo Noriega) who is a depressed ex-school boy whom now works at the school for pleasurable means to the headmistress and caretaker, who could easily be compared to Captain Vidal in Pan's Labyrinth. Even the local bully Jaime (Íñigo Garcés) has deep roots towards the complex, but there is always a reason for being brute and far too familiar with local surroundings.
The Spanish language goes to find its deeper roots for a complex horror set in a school for orphaned boys during the Spanish Civil War. Some unaware of the deaths of family members. From the crisp start to finish Del Toro manages to unite all his divergent rudiments - horror and gold, fear and infidelity and politics and civil war - to amazement.
Verdict:
If indeed Pan's Labyrinth would be the proverbial Red Wine or Bordeaux, Devil's Backbone just happens to be the fine Scotch Whisky you could drink. 8.5/10.
10 yr-old Carlos arrives at a Spanish school sheltering the orphans of the Republican militia only to discover it has many supernatural secrets.
My Review:
Albeit that Pan's Labyrinth did undoubtedly well, take it amongst yourselves to watch the first and second in Del Toro' magical trilogy. This second in a trilogy revolves around a group of boys and this time, an old-fashioned wartime ghost story. This not just because that dir. Del Toro's has a hovering and poignant ghost story to tell that harnesses more substance, 'jump-factor', and is executed with rather more style than the whole number of Hollywood' asinine lack lusting scare movies, but recent work for a major studio, working in Mimic, allowed Del Toro to refresh himself.
Our protagonist is a 10 yr-old Carlos (Fernando Tielve) who doesn't take on being bullied so easily, even after being abandoned in the school by his fathers friend and picked on since day one, all those who remember starting a new school will connect and laugh with this young witty troublesome attraction and to his likable friends that refuse to boycott him. Del Toro manages to yet again swindle directing children to startling effect. No corny-ness, but with all the decent, funny and if not typical young-to-teenage boy idiosyncrasies, that range from comics, model cars and dirty pictures.
Providing the support and adult figures to some of the disobedient children, is headmistress Carmen (Marisa Paredes), whom isn't hard, demeaning or strict but reluctant to take on more kids, she's tough despite the effect the war has had on her. The likable Dr. Casares (Federico Luppi) who provides assistance and understanding to the boys and Carlos in particular when the vivid appearances of a school-boy ghost 'Santi' make claim. He is warm-hearted and passionate towards his job, and gets to defend its keep from a man Jacinto (Eduardo Noriega) who is a depressed ex-school boy whom now works at the school for pleasurable means to the headmistress and caretaker, who could easily be compared to Captain Vidal in Pan's Labyrinth. Even the local bully Jaime (Íñigo Garcés) has deep roots towards the complex, but there is always a reason for being brute and far too familiar with local surroundings.
The Spanish language goes to find its deeper roots for a complex horror set in a school for orphaned boys during the Spanish Civil War. Some unaware of the deaths of family members. From the crisp start to finish Del Toro manages to unite all his divergent rudiments - horror and gold, fear and infidelity and politics and civil war - to amazement.
Verdict:
If indeed Pan's Labyrinth would be the proverbial Red Wine or Bordeaux, Devil's Backbone just happens to be the fine Scotch Whisky you could drink. 8.5/10.
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A beautifully shot film contrasting the bright white landscapes surrounding the orphanage with the foreboding almost gothic corridors and rooms inside. Superbly acted by both adults AND children alike (Del Torro obviously knows how to select his actors and get their best performances) and very well produced. If you know anyone adverse to watching subtitled/foreign films then this is the one that will break them because the story and subject matter simply overcome the language barrier. A truely gripping piece of cinema that begins with one simple(?!) question "What is a ghost?..." By the end of this film you will be asking yourself that same question over and over.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An excellent thought provoking film.
Purchased because my daughter is doing A'Level Spanish but I enjoyed it in its own right mixing fantasy horror with the real horror of the Spanish civil war and the effects it had... Read more
Published 27 days ago by Neale Hind
devil's backbone,great film
I first saw this film,bit by bit as I work with GCSE students and thought I'd like a copy. Very glad to own a copy, great story,has many themes throughout and quite unusual. Read more
Published 4 months ago by chris51
Not bad at all!
Another classic Del Toro. Pacey but still leaves enough time for you to immerse yourself in the storyline, and really feel for the characters. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Nat94
Spanish cinema
is cluttered with gems waiting to be discovered. This was the film that really set me off. A truly classic ghost film. Read more
Published 5 months ago by G. Findlay
Not impressed
The DVD THE DEVILS BACKBONE has never been recieved by myself. So god knows where it's ended up at. But I have put it down to buyers luck. I know it's a risk when ordering online. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Paul
El espinazo del diablo
Very dramatic DVD- loved it!! Good quality but not sure why it only works on my laptop, but not anywhere around my house, that was quite annoying as I have tried everything...
Published 12 months ago by Marcus
Loved it!
I first saw this film on FILM4 on tv before Xmas, recorded it and watched it again. I absolutely love it. Its like nothing I ever saw before. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Heather
Great original story
I enjoyed this film, it had a real atmosphere to it, what it shared with Pan's Labyrinth was a really oppressive setting for the main character, this was really well translated to... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. J. C. Osborne
surprising
I picked this dvd up cheap, expecting it to be worth a watch, maybe, for the bargain price and nothing more. Read more
Published 14 months ago by :(
dark horror
DONT EXPECT TO BE HAPPY AFTER THIS ONE,A TALE OF A SPANISH ORPHANAGE DURING THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR,I AM NOT SURE I WOULD GO AS FAR AS TO SAY STATE OF THE ART SPECIAL EFFECTS , LIKE... Read more
Published 14 months ago by sueb
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