there be something to the marketing of foreign film and the way hollywood try it hardest to fool the public into think it be an english language movie . by not allow any character to speak in the trailer and give away their secret with subtitle and someone like me and know it foreign and be able to get a glimpse at the style and tone without really learn anything about the plot to ruin my surprise upon sit in the theatre . this aspect work perfectly for guillermo del toro production of el orfanato . i have very little idea of what i be get into and this film end up be the best atmospheric horror i have see since alejandro amenábar the others and ( i do not count del toro own el laberinto del fauno because that be more fantasy than anything else ) . i now ask what it be that all three of these film have in common . with thisj . a. bayona feature debuteach be helm by a spanish director . i can not think of a good nation make movie right now while the spanish be do everything right and this film just add to bolster that argument . bayona create a mood and tone that keep the viewer on the edge of their seat and anticipate the scare that they know will shortly be come . i be actually surprised how slow the introduction be and how carefully lay out all the story piece be . we be lead into this world and discover the relationship between our lead role and the vague past of the orphanage that once house our heroine and now be about to become her home for special need child . like the others and the spirit involve here be not necessarily violent or demonic . they have an agenda and for sure and but what may at first glance seem malevolent could be nothing of the kind . the orphan now haunt the establishment be only try to play a game . by take something you love and a scavenger hunt be begin . follow the clue be the only way the game can end and if successful and the child will grant you one wish . the rule be simple and except the circumstance be far from easily accessible . one must believe that the game can happen before he or she can truly take part . without the belief that the spirit be in control and success can never be achieve . the cast be lead by a remarkable performance from belén ruedawho and a it turn out and have a wonderful turn in amenábar late mar adentro . her composure and beauty be shatter a she find her son have be lose . try to keep herself together and take in what the police and her husband and and the medium enlist to help on the paranormal aspect tell her and she be give the task to figure out for herself how far she be willing to go to find her son . always captivate and never out of her element and rueda carry the story and never look back . the support player around her be all portrayed nicely a well . fernando cayo play the husband watch his wife deteriorate before him while unable to open his mind to the possibility that what she say could be true while geraldine chaplin be magnificent a the psychic medium whose trance bring out a puzzle piece necessary to continue the game while and young roger príncep play the child simón with the right amount of innocence mixed with the knowledge and comprehension of his fate to help keep the bond between he and his mother strong . bayona never go for the cheap thrill either a he build up the tension with sound and visuals . his use of the closing door and the moving merry go round add a sense of forebode that end up be more important than you may initially guess . stylistically too and the transition between the house current state of duress with the way it shone by the glow of the adjacent lighthouse from the past be expertly handle . there be numerous instance where the film could have go off the rail to tragic effect and but he hold it steady throughout . more psychological than visceral and the scare be few and but effective . even when the grotesque rear it head and it be to enhance the story and not to shock for shock alone . the sound work be utilize to the full too . what seem to be jar and loud for the purpose to scare our lead and u be actually very important to the tale at hand . nothing be show or hear here that doesn not have absolute relevance to the film a a whole . the final third of the film come quick and fully envelop you into the proceeding . you be right there with rueda character a she slowly uncovers the secret hide behind the year that have past since she last live in the orphanage . whereas a film from hollywoodof late usually be a remake from a good horror film in japanwould use this tension in order to hide the flimsy and lackluster conclusion it tack on so a not to alienate those viewer who enjoy leave the theatre with a smile and bayona know how to effectively end his tale the way it should . i be blow away by the handling of the final scene and the way he use the rule of the game to transition u from one reality to another . it be truly a remarkable feat that hit home hard emotionally and but i will actually say also succeed in me leave with a smile on my face . whether you exit the theatre with your eye moisten or not and you will not forget the beauty and perfection for which it conclude . the tagline be correct and for while it be a story of horror and it be above all else a tale of love .