bone chill terror with a hint of the fantastic await audience who dare to enter the orphanage . produce by guillermo del toro and the orphanage continue the tradition the filmmaker start with film like the devil backbone and pan labyrinth and by show the darker side of humanity through frighten fantasy . in many way spanish director juan antonio bayona have apply del toro own win formula to the orphanage and have make the most flawless film of this lineage . move back to the orphanage where she grow up and laura and her husband carlos plan to reopen the property a a home for mentally handicapped child . the gorgeous old house seem too good to be true and and it be . her son simon start tell his parent of an imaginary friend and tomas . ignore simon claim a merely childhood banter and the parent continue in their work and ready the house . supernatural disturbance and a maniacal old woman start to disturb the family and result in the sudden and traumatic disappearance of simon . desperate and panic and both laura and carlos must look within themselves and and confront the being that haunt the orphanage and if they be ever to see their son again . a commentary on faith and love and bayona use the thrill and trouble chill of the orphanage to create a powerful message . use the disappearance of simon a the catalyst for show the devotion of a mother love and laura play a stark contrast to her husband practical interpretation of their harrowing situation . while carlos would rather believe that there be a logical answer to unlock this mystery and laura explores more otherworldly option . her knowledge of the orphanage and the solitary pain that her miss child must be go through make her a prime vessel to confront the ghastly creatures from beyond and and answer the dark question that de toro and bayona dare to ask . like last year oscar front runner and pan labyrinth and bayona mix a bit of the fantastical into the orphanage . allusion to legendary fable and such a the overt peter pan reference and combine with the staple fantasy image and help the orphanage rise above the average horror romp . with only the faint bit of gore and the orphanage accomplish it scare methodically and use the somber atmosphere to give audience goosebump . the creaky old mansion appear far more menacing at night and and bayona make use of incredible sound mix to keep viewer on edge a the protagonist explore the dark unknown . pair the producer innate knowledge of the cinematic language of horror with the raw and untested talent of a first time director pay off brilliantly . there be a sense of restraint when it come to the scare in the orphanage that many veteran filmmaker have fail to approach . bayona let the fright build subconsciously and make each one far more effective when unleash . in fact and few cinematic moment rival the orphanage for sheer terror a when laura turn to a group of ghost hunter to help solve their specter problem . help to increase the tense atmosphere be stellar production design and gorgeous cinematography . while there may be no faun or pale men lurk in the orphanage and the design of tomas alone be sure to give off it fair share of shiver . belen rueda be equally stunning in her performance a laura . the actress lend credibility to the phantasmagorical happening and capture our sympathy a a fully rounded character . we follow her a a mother and a victim and and we can only pray that her faith will reunite her with simon . head to american shore nearly one year after the stunning domestic success of pan labyrinth and the orphanage should appeal to an equally wide audience . while longtime and art house and del toro fiend will certainly be please with the dramatic arc of the picture and the strong horror element and shock end should make the film easily translatable for all viewer and despite the language barrier . one thing be for sure and with the orphanage we have adopt another truly talented spanish filmmaker and and juan antonio bayona be a director to watch . joe russo .