Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
Spain, 1939. In the last days of the Spanish Civil War, the young Carlos arrives at the Santa Lucía orphanage, where he will make friends and enemies as he follows the quiet footsteps of a mysterious presence eager for revenge.
Del Toro's Spanish Civil War ghost story is a remarkably crafted piece of gothic horror that uses the supernatural as a lens for political tragedy. The plot is thematically rich, weaving personal loss with historical upheaval in ways that feel genuinely layered. Cinematography is exceptional — the amber-soaked, decaying orphanage interiors and the iconic unexploded bomb suspended in the courtyard create an indelible visual atmosphere. Novelty is high: the film's fusion of ghost story, war allegory, and coming-of-age drama produces something genuinely singular in tone and conception. Acting is solid throughout, with standout work from Federico Luppi and Marisa Paredes, though the child performances are uneven. The ending is emotionally resonant but somewhat telegraphed once the film's mechanics are established, landing as satisfying rather than surprising.