A woman brings her family back to her childhood home, and orphanage out in the country, where she plans to open a home for handicapped children. Before long, her son starts to communicate with invisible new friends, just before he disappears. As they frantically try to find their lost son, she realizes the answers are in the secrets of the home.
Guillermo Del Toro's name is on this film, but as producer only, so don't go to see his directorial work. Also be warned... it's in Spanish and subtitled so be prepared for a lot of reading. But it's definitely worth it.
It's very atmospheric and creepy and the plot unravels at a nice enough pace to keep you interested. It's sort of a thinking-man's ghost story more than a horror movie, as there are only a couple of jump-type scares, relying instead on cerebral terror over little tricks. It works pretty well as the big house is creepy and the goings-on induce chill bumps regularly on a more psychological level.
The overall look of the film is pretty amazing too, with light and darkness and color used in a unique way a lot of times, giving it sort of a special feel.
The story itself isn't hugely original, as it's another of the "ghost leaves clues to solving the mystery of the house" film, of which there are many (my favorite would be George C. Scott in The Changeling). It's the way this one was done that will leave it sitting apart from the rest in the coming years.
I found it to be a very clever, tense ghost story that I look forward to watching again on DVD.
8/10
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