Daveportivo's Cultural Evaluation Facility

Plot Synopsis: A Spainish woman buys the Orphanage she grew up in as a child and sets about life with her loving husband and adopted child Simon. All is well until Simon visits a seaside cave and a creepy old lady visits with news that Simon is HIV positive. Things get spooky from here on in. On the day that the old Orphanage is to be openned as a home for mentally ill children Simon goes missing and his foster parents endeveour to find him.

Review: Del Toro dirrection is superb and the cinematography is superb with some vivid and beautiful landscapes and some cruel creepy visuals. The film may lack in actual scares but it more than makes up for it in bone chilling tension. The acting for the most part is spot on especially by the husband Carlos who's deliver and facial acting is spot on. The film has its unorriginal moments and anything with children in tends to lend from the Omen but these are minor quibbles compared to the ending. Had this film ended five minutes earlier it would have been excellent but the final five minutes wreak of holywood garabage and undo and subtle plot and conclusion. That said it can't make up for what was a very satisfying, pretty and atomspheric film. (***1/2)