When a director becomes known for a grand style, it’s often nice to go back and watch what they could do with more limitations. It creates a sweet spot where the imagination is tangible. Such is the case here. There are the usual GDT themes of ghosts, infidelity and politics, without the creative creatures and ornate sets. The visual command is still impressive, and this is perhaps Del Toro’s scariest film. Starting with the unexploded bomb in the courtyard, there’s an unease to the decaying structure with its long, empty hallways. Some of his later films would goose the story with momentary shocks, but The Devil’s Backbone relies on a lingering tension that makes the Horror feel omnipresent.
Leave A Comment