The Devil's Backbone

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The Devil's Backbone - 25/8/2006 2:42:02 PM

Empire Admin

Posts: 26334
Joined: 29/6/2005

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Post #: 1

Doesn't Live up to the Hype - 25/8/2006 2:42:03 PM

vikingvampireparrot

Posts: 36
Joined: 1/10/2005

The idea behind this film is very interesting and the first half an hour or so are quite promising.

However, after this, it becomes quite slow and tired and doesn't pull off the chills or scares it tries to.

By the end it is just a below average ghost story which doesn't really justify the acclaim it seems to have gained.

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Post #: 2

Doesn't Live up to the Hype - 25/8/2006 2:42:08 PM

vikingvampireparrot

Posts: 36
Joined: 1/10/2005

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Post #: 3

Beautiful - 26/9/2006 8:21:31 PM

MaxiHogea

Posts: 21
Joined: 11/5/2006

I thought the movie was very beautiful, and although slow sometimes, no scene seems forced. The story is compelling and the art direction was excellent. It's not so much a ghost story that tries to scare...

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Post #: 4

- 4/1/2007 9:40:22 AM

cat699

Posts: 10
Joined: 11/10/2005

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Post #: 5

Devil's Backbone - 21/2/2007 11:49:26 PM

john.sharman27

Posts: 25
Joined: 6/1/2007

I saw it on a video on a video player whose heads were worn.I was struck by the hot dusty exterior shots of the plains with orange and yellow the predominant colours. This alternated with the cool bluish night or interior shots.This set up a dramatic contrast of fugue states in which the story could be told. Jacinto was the violent core which exploded thye ghosts of memory and the living ghost. There was a considered form and substantiality to the film which one doesn't often see.

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Post #: 6

great film - 19/3/2007 4:26:21 PM

thearchitect

Posts: 118
Joined: 31/8/2006
From: Manchester

i love this film and think this is easily as good as pans labyrinth which has gotten more hype and better reviews. the cinematography is great, the acting is great, the music is fantastic, and hopefully del toro will continue to make films as good as this in the future. this film should be seen by everybody.

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Post #: 7

- 24/10/2007 10:25:30 PM

bobbyperu

Posts: 497
Joined: 21/10/2007

not as good as pans labyrinth but im still gonna give it 5 cause id give P/L 10

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Post #: 8

- 24/10/2007 10:25:31 PM

bobbyperu

Posts: 497
Joined: 21/10/2007

not as good as pans labyrinth but im still gonna give it 5 cause id give P/L 10

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Post #: 9

- 21/12/2007 3:23:42 PM

lynnshep

Posts: 428
Joined: 17/1/2007
From: USA

Scary and disturbing. The last 30 minutes is intense. Great acting and directing. Classic del Toro.

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Post #: 10

VINTAGE DEL TORO - 2/4/2008 2:21:35 PM

jimibadboi7

Posts: 107
Joined: 7/12/2006

Everyone pipes on about Pan's Labyrinth...(which is still good), but Devils is a classic. Forget The Orphanage as well....this is a real gem of a ghost story!

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Post #: 11

classic - 2/4/2008 2:22:13 PM

jimibadboi7

Posts: 107
Joined: 7/12/2006

WATCH THIS FILM!

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Post #: 12

- 27/10/2008 10:06:35 PM

vivlitherland

Posts: 110
Joined: 7/5/2006
From: York

i have to say i really liked this film, it was extremly moving. some decent child acting as well. i loved the way the ghost moved, like it wasnt entirely there, which seemed very realistic.

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Post #: 13

Terrific not Terrifying - 8/8/2010 12:50:36 PM

zedphelan

Posts: 28
Joined: 28/7/2010

Set during the Spanish Civil war, within an orphanage of young boys, this story begins with young Carlos being brought to the orphanage. The story slowly reveals the murder of a young resident and the greed of an old resident who has since become the caretaker of the orphanage which has an unnerving link.

Quite a sombre and dark story of love, treachery, greed and revenge this film is compelling from beginning to end. From my initial reading of this film I was expecting a terrifying horror story but Guillermo Del Toro has delivered an intriguing ghost story.

Visually beautiful and a cast that delivers this film perfectly, this is a story which must be seen.

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Post #: 14