The Devil's Backbone

Name: The Devil's Backbone
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror
Released: November 21, 2001
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 78
Cast: Eduardo Noriega, Marisa Paredes

2001

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 146 Ratings

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 146 Ratings

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The Devil's Backbone

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: November 21, 2001 | R

Starring: Eduardo Noriega, Marisa Paredes

Summary: A ghost story set in a Catholic orphanage during the Spanish Civil War.

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 106 min

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Critic Reviews

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Del Toro builds excitement, dread, and melodrama in equal layers. Read full review

Kevin Thomas

With the ambitious and ominous The Devil's Backbone, Del Toro rises to a new level of accomplishment, adding history and politics to his distinctive blend. Read full review

Empire Colin Kennedy

Building slowly from a stately start, Del Toro manages to unite all his disparate elements - ghosts and gold, infidelity and politics - for a devastating final reel. The command of sound and colour is breathtaking. Read full review

Kimberley Jones

Is nothing if not exquisitely detailed: It's like a blood orange that del Toro spends the film seductively unpeeling, revealing layer upon layer of meaning and pathos. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

After a leisurely first half, The Devil's Backbone becomes utterly spellbinding, its tension mounting in steady increments, its story taking one dark turn after another, and its bittersweet resolution destined to haunt you long after you've left the theater.

Steven Rea

Creepy and compelling and beautifully shot, The Devil's Backbone is a tale of the supernatural that feels completely natural. Its realness is what makes it so scary.

Christopher Varney

That The Devil's Backbone makes any sense at all -- with its many, swirling plotlines -- seems like a little wonder. Read full review

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User Reviews

ugisupriatna

Jun 21, 2014

Del Toro's brilliantly combined a humanist ghost story with ornament of history of wartime and politic allegory, makes "The Devil's Backbone" not only creepy and haunting, but also elegant, beautiful, and dramatic, This film is deserved become one of the best modern horror film ever made.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

bigbossluna

Jan 30, 2012

So good. Not that scary but doesn't matter because is one of the greatest stories ever told. It has the greatest characters in a scary movie (more of a fable). Interesting in so many ways.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

BillS.

Apr 13, 2006

An atmospheric wonder of a film. Del Toro uses horror to enhance the film, rather than making it the film. The characters are engaging, and the symbolism is rich. One in a recent line of smart horror films (Sixth Sense, The Others) that hopefully signals a resurgence of an almost lost An atmospheric wonder of a film. Del Toro uses horror to enhance the film, rather than making it the film. The characters are engaging, and the symbolism is rich. One in a recent line of smart horror films (Sixth Sense, The Others) that hopefully signals a resurgence of an almost lost genre. Buy this, don't rent it.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful

TheQuietGamer

May 23, 2018

A tale of greed, war, and tragedy all set against the backdrop of a ghost story. Guillermo del Toro's gothic drama is set in an orphanage during the Spanish Civil War. Dark secrets are hidden inside it's walls, and not just the kind related to the restless spirit that wanders the halls.A tale of greed, war, and tragedy all set against the backdrop of a ghost story. Guillermo del Toro's gothic drama is set in an orphanage during the Spanish Civil War. Dark secrets are hidden inside it's walls, and not just the kind related to the restless spirit that wanders the halls. Those who watch over the children harbor lust, regret, and anger in their hearts. The lingering dead actually play second fiddle to the living. The real stars of the show are the kids. This is very much a story about the innocence of youth and why adults should take care not to spoil it.

Believable interactions and well-written, multilayered characters ensure that the narrative never gets stale. Much like the director's later work "Crimson Peak" (which I now believe is a spiritual successor to this film), the supernatural horror elements aren't so much used to frighten, but instead to imbue the story with a somewhat mythical quality. A tone of magic punctuates every event. So unfortunately the movie is not scary. Just occasionally eerie. A disappointment, but at least del Toro's knack for sometimes stomach-churning gore is still present.

War leads to many horrors. Sometimes those who never step on the battlefield end up just as wounded as those who did. This is especially true for the children that are left behind when their parents take up the fight. The Devil's Backbone is a dark, beautiful wartime parable made up of ghosts, violence, and enchantment. Qualities that more than help it make up for a lot of that missing terror.

8.3/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MattBrady99

Feb 17, 2022

Guillermo del Toro is right when it came to Hollywood's portrayal of kids in movies with "children as happy, brainless creatures that spout one-liners." The same goes to the tired praise of "the accurate portrayal" of kids who swear and make crude banter, because "omg that's what kidsGuillermo del Toro is right when it came to Hollywood's portrayal of kids in movies with "children as happy, brainless creatures that spout one-liners." The same goes to the tired praise of "the accurate portrayal" of kids who swear and make crude banter, because "omg that's what kids totally do and say". However, what I feel is missing from a lot of these movies is just how vulnerable and how unsafe it is to be a child. Where the chances of experiencing trauma and being ignored lies in certainty.

And I think del Toro captured that effectively.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

frederik1478

Jul 21, 2020

Really good atmospheric film, First movie I have watched of Del Toro And it has not disappointed it has made me more engaged to watch that the other ones Characters a good and the movie isn't too long which is always a really good thing, The last part of the movie get me on the corner of myReally good atmospheric film, First movie I have watched of Del Toro And it has not disappointed it has made me more engaged to watch that the other ones Characters a good and the movie isn't too long which is always a really good thing, The last part of the movie get me on the corner of my seat all the way through… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ERG1008

Sep 3, 2010

Ghost story set in a school/orphanage during the Spanish Civil War.
As you'd expect with del Toro, it's beautifully shot & almost fairytale like. Eerie & brutal in parts & certainly much better than the over-rated Pan's Labyrinth.
Some bits reminded me of the first Silent Hill game back on the PS1.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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44	#44 Best Movie of 2001
75	#75 Most Discussed Movie of 2001