El Orfanato - 4,5 stars'One, Two, Three...Knock on the door...!' In all sincerity, I don't remember any film sequence with such pure suspense that made me clutch my seat as the camera swept across the room back and forth. Director Juan Antonio Bayona transforms one of children's favorite games into one of the finest suspense rides to grace the big screen as we play hide and seek with Laura and the lost children. The biggest accomplishment for the film though is its modern twist on the traditional ghost story, which essentially lifts this film out of the depths of countless horror flicks into the finest levels of masterful suspense.
El Orfanato may be one of the few horror films to have a spine, a heart and a brain. The screenplay is very solid and well-developed with every turn in the story well calculated and for a reason, kudos to Sergio Sánchez. The script along with the fine acting, especially of the main actress Belén Rueda, carry the film comfortably forward. Rueda does an excellent job of making us connect with her where the viewer actually cares about her and her quest up until the final moment.
All in all, Bayona triumphs in proving to the film world that a horror film on a typical premise can still surprise, thrill and keep its grip on the viewer for prolonged moments of pleasurable suspense. Highly recommended!
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