Laura (Belén Rueda) lived for several years in an orphanage before being adopted. Several years later, now married to Carlos (Fernando Cayo), she adopted a son, Simón (Roger Príncep), who is ill with HIV. Laura's dream is to turn the old orphanage, now abandoned, into a family home. During the masquerade party for the inauguration of the new facility Simón disappears. Police searches are in vain. Laura, however, is convinced that it was her son's imaginary friends, perhaps ghosts, who took him away with them... A multi-award-winning film produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by newcomer Bayona, it is a paranormal thriller that will more easily thrill the casual ghost story viewer than the bulimic horrorphile: the latter will feel the constant chill of déjà vu throughout the film. To cite all sources or inspirations is an almost futile effort (we limit ourselves to Saint Ange or The Others) because the film is a child of that long tradition that has Henry James' novel Turn of the Screw as its fundamental canon. Nevertheless, Bayona's hand is particularly sure and convincing, and interesting is the performance of Rueda, a mother who overcomes all limits, even rational ones, out of love for her son. Children, as the history of horror cinema teaches, always make their excellent contribution in making a ghost story haunting. The ending tries to be particularly impressive, with several twists and turns, but it will not convince everyone. But when you get the most out of the usual simple ingredients, it means there is underlying skill. But also a certain captatio benevolentiae: remakes at the door, indeed.
Review by Zick
