The Orphanage - Yes, it is in Spanish

Went to see The Orphanage last night. And fucking hell, it was scary. I genuinely mean that. It is the sort of film that makes you jump, and in periods (such as the séance) was genuinely unsettling. It managed to create such a potent atmosphere that I didn’t focus on the more major plot holes. Which is nothing short of a miracle, because some of the plot holes were so large that you could drive a lorry through them.

So I’d heartily recommend it. With two caveats. First of all, if you like psychological horror films, then you will love this film. It is very much in keeping with the likes of The Sixth Sense, Ghostwatch, The Stone Tape and the film version of The Woman In Black. It aspires to be scary, rather than grisly. If you like the Saw style of film, then this – despite a couple of moments of brutality and gore – will not be the film for you.

Also – and I never thought I’d have to add this caveat, but there we go – it is in Spanish. After several people expressed incredulity that anyone would watch a Spanish film (including one person who asked if I could speak fluent Spanish, not thinking for a moment that there might be subtitles), I think it is worth pointing out that it is a subtitled film. Not a problem for me, but clearly is for some other people. And for others still, the very concept of subtitles seems to be mystifying.

*Sighs*

So if you want to watch a psychological horror films and don’t mind subtitles, go watch The Orphanage. If you want something in English with less subtlety and more gore, wait for the US remake. Which, no doubt, will star Naomi Watts – the queen of the remake, particularly of films originally made in a language other than English.