>
Creepily atmospheric and haunting, The Devil's Backbone is both a potent ghost story and an intelligent political allegory. Read critic reviews
What to know
You might also like
See More
Blood Simple
Diabolique
Mean Streets
The Killer
Eraserhead
Where to watch The Devil's Backbone
Rent The Devil's Backbone on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, or buy it on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu.
Rate And Review
-
What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
-
Fandango
-
AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
-
Cinemark Coming Soon
We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
-
Regal Coming Soon
We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
-
Theater box office or somewhere else
The Devil's Backbone videos
The Devil's Backbone: Trailer 1
The Devil's Backbone Photos
Movie Info
After losing his father, 10-year-old Carlos (Fernando Tielve) arrives at the Santa Lucia School, which shelters orphans of the Republican militia and politicians, and is taken in by the steely headmistress, Carmen (Marisa Paredes), and the kindly professor, Casares (Federico Luppi). Soon after his arrival, Carlos has a run-in with the violent caretaker, Jacinto (Eduardo Noriega). Gradually, Carlos uncovers the secrets of the school, including the youthful ghost that wanders the grounds.
-
Rating: R (Violence|Some Sexuality|Language)
-
Genre: Mystery & thriller, Drama, Horror
-
Original Language: Spanish
-
Director: Guillermo del Toro
-
Writer: Guillermo del Toro, Antonio Trashorras, David Muñoz
-
Release Date (Theaters): wide
-
Release Date (Streaming):
-
Box Office (Gross USA): $754.7K
-
Runtime:
-
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
-
Production Co: Good Machine, El Deseo S.A.
-
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Cast & Crew
News & Interviews for The Devil's Backbone
Critic Reviews for The Devil's Backbone
Audience Reviews for The Devil's Backbone
-
The Devil's Backbone is more sad than frightening. It focuses on the children in an orphanage with nowhere to turn to as the Spanish Civil War soon empties on their doorstep. While the ghost of Santi is truly unnerving, the film reflects a common theme in Guillermo del Toro's films - that humans are the worst kind of monsters.
-
Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone is a stunning, atmospheric horror tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Del Toro viewed this as one of his most personal efforts, and unlike his other films, this film really goes deep into the horror genre, and in turn delivers a tense, terrifying film going experience. del Toro's direction is terrific and the script is well thought out with plenty of twists and turns to make for an exhilarating and terrifying film going experience. For me, del Toro is a unique director in the horror medium, as he has made several genre pictures that really stood out. Cronos and Mimic are proof of that. Both different films, yet they brought a whole new level of creativity to the medium, which is refreshing to see as well. This is an effective ghost story that is sure to appeal to genre fans, and for viewers looking for engaging horror tale, The Devil's Backbone is one such film that delivers what you'd expect from a del Toro picture. In terms of storytelling, this is a richly detailed film that grabs your attention from the first frame onwards. For fans that enjoy a good old fashioned ghost story, this will surely appeal to you. Del Toro always has a unique vision for his films, and with this film we get a different type f film, but it still nonetheless possesses everything you'd expect from a del Toro picture. His films tend to have a great sense of storytelling aided by powerful visuals. With The Devil's Backbone we get a surprisingly well crafted horror film that will stick with you long after you've seen. The film is one of the best foreign supernatural horror films that I've and it showcases Guillermo del Toro's great talents as a filmmaker perfectly.
-
The Devil's Backbone is not only one of Guillermo del Toro finest film, but it's one of the best horror movies ever made with an intelligent plot that serves more purpose than to just scare you. The Devil's Backbone follows Carlos, a 12-year-old whose father has died in the Spanish Civil War, arriving at an ominous boy's orphanage where he discovers the school is haunted and has many dark secrets that he must uncover. Unlike most horror movies which solely focuses on a killer or supernatural being, The Devil's Backbone goes beyond the genre conventions and explores acceptance, lust, fear, and surprisingly fits politics in it plot pretty well. It actually delve into these subjects and gives plantation towards them. The great use of metaphors such as the bomb are both brilliant and creative. The film is slow pace, but it works in its favor developing characters worth caring about. It's also unusually complex for a movie of it kind, which once again works in it favors since it's too often horror movies are dead simple. The horror elements on the other hand are not as strong, del Toro reveal the ghost to early and very clearly for us to see eliminating some mystery behind this ghost. The score for this horror is phenomenal, possibly the best score in it genre. The cast themselves can all act, even the kids give out great performances. One standout being Federico Luppi as Dr. Casares is superb, providing us with a true hero, a gentleman of class and compassion. Another memorable performance being Eduardo Noriega who is perfectly cast as the despicable Jacinto, making you despise him more and more as the film progresses. The cinematography is simply amazing, it gritty style helps set the tone for the film in it darkest moments and made great use of it location. The Devil's Backbone is complex for it genre balancing all it subject matter into a strong and focus film. The Devil's Backbone is easily one of best horror movie you could ever see offering more than any simple horror film.
-
A stylish ghost story from Del Toro set during the Spanish Civil War. Unlike 'Pan's Labyrinth' there is no fantasy here but the story of a few children and their teachers in an isolated orphanage/school is classic spooky story set-up (even in the bright Spanish sun). Like 'The Orphanage' the evil in the building doesn't actually resonate from the ghost and when deaths start occuring Del Toro isn't afraid to show the sheer brutality of greed and evil. The film looks beautiful and the performances are excellent (especially from the children). It's a shame Del Toro couldn't have tackled the children's story 'The Hobbit' as this, 'Pan's Labyrinth' and 'The Orphanage' show how excellently he can blend the innocennce of childhood fantasy and naivety with gritty reality.
Verified