The Devil's Backbone

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Movie
German title The Devil's Backbone
Original title El espinazo del diablo
Country of production Spain , Mexico , USA
original language Spanish
Publishing year 2001
length 106 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Guillermo del Toro
script Guillermo del Toro
Antonio Trashorras
David Muñoz
production Guillermo del Toro
Pedro Almodovar
music Javier Navarrete
camera Guillermo Navarro
cut Luis de la Madrid
occupation

The Devil's Backbone (OT: El espinazo del diablo , also: The backbone of the devil ) is a Spanish - Mexican co-produced horror film from 2001. The film was produced by Guillermo del Toro and Pedro Almodóvar .

action

The young Carlos is sent to a remote orphanage during the Spanish Civil War . There he befriends the other boys and learns of a ghost that is supposed to be around there. The orphanage is run by Dr. Casares and Carmen, who sympathize with the Republicans and have gold in custody for the Republican cause. The irascible employee Jacinto, who was raised in the orphanage, is after this gold. As we learn later, one night he went to work on the large safe in the kitchen in which the gold is hidden, where he was surprised by the orphan Santi. In the basement, Jacinto confronted the boy and pushed him roughly, causing Santi to hit his head and be fatally injured. Jacinto tried to cover up his act by tying stones to the dying boy and sinking him into the building's supply basin. Since then, Santi's ghost has haunted the orphanage and prophesies to Carlos that many of the residents of the house will die.

As the war escalates near the orphanage, Dr. Casares its evacuation. Jacinto, who had been chased off the premises shortly before after trying to take the gold, then sets the kitchen on fire with the aid of gasoline. Several children and the director Carmen are killed in the explosion. Dr. Casares dies shortly afterwards of his injuries. The following day, Jacinto returns to the orphanage to look for the gold. He finds it, but is thrown by the surviving children into the supply basin in which he once sank Santi. The gold he carries pulls him down. As he is trying to get rid of it to reappear, Santi appears behind him and drowns him.

criticism

The lexicon of international films described The Devil's Backbone as a "calmer horror film" , which instead of "fountains of blood" relies on a "threatening atmosphere" . Fans of "slasher movies" would experience a disappointment as a result. The film was photographed “great” and “full of allegorical allusions” . The lexicon concluded that the film was “one of the genre discoveries of the last year for friends of gentle horror” .

Paul Julian Smith called the film in Sight & Sound a "masterful" supernatural thriller of "visual brilliance" .

Awards (selection)

  • Actor Fernando Tielve received a Young Artist Award in the category Best Young Actor in an International Film in 2002.
  • The film was nominated for the Goya in the categories of Best Costume Design and Best Special Effects.
  • A nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Horror Film .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Devil's Backbone. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  2. ^ Paul Julian Smith: Ghost of the civil dead. In: Sight & Sound . December 2001, accessed on September 7, 2008 (English, replaced by the archive version July 24, 2013).

Web links