Pan's Labyrinth (R)

Brilliant, poignant fairy tale isn't for kids.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
4
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Movie details
  • Studio: Picturehouse, Picturehouse
  • Directed By: Guillermo Del Toro
  • Cast: Maribel Verdu, Ivana Baquero, Sergi Lopez
  • Running Time: 120 minutes
  • Release Date: 12/29/2006
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 05/15/2007
  • Genre: Fantasy
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • MPAA Explanation: graphic violence and some language.

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that, while this gorgeous, subtitled Spanish fantasy-drama focuses on an 11-year-old girl's experience, it's not meant for children. It's full of mature themes and violent scenes (including the bloody death of a child) -- in fact, it opens on the face of a child who has been hurt, her mouth bleeding. The villain is a captain in the fascist military who repeatedly brutalizes others: He berates his wife, threatens his stepdaughter, kills villagers (beating them and shooting point-blank), and tortures his servant. Weapons include guns, knives, and grenades; some violent acts are explicit on screen (pain and bloody wounds visible). Some of the creatures Ofelia meets are frightening: The giant toad, the Faun, and the Pale Man are all strange, noisy, and physically threatening. Language includes two uses of "f--k."

Families can talk about the nature of fairy tales. How do they reflect (and comment upon) real-life experiences? In this movie, how do Ofelia's experiences in the fantastical world mirror what she's going through at home?

Message

Social Behavior:

The captain is strict and brutal, abusing his wife, stepdaughter, local community members, and his servants; Ofelia makes some mistakes (she dirties her party dress, steals food without considering the consequences, etc.), but she's morally sound and a courageous girl; the rebels mean to save the community/nation, but they must sneak around to resist the dominant state forces.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Characters drink wine with dinner; Ofelia concocts a kind of "potion" with a living root.

Violence

Ofelia appears wounded and bleeding from her mouth as film begins; the fascist captain commits brutal acts (shooting unarmed "rebels," torturing sympathetic characters when they become suspects, threatening Ofelia); Carmen almost miscarries, her blood-covered body frightening Ofelia; after he's attacked with a knife, the captain stitches his wound closed, showing great pain and lots of blood; battles include shooting, explosions, and bloody wounds; a scary giant toad and the eyeless Pale Man threaten Ofelia (latter chases her through a bone-filled cavern with arms waving and attacks her friends the fairies, to bloody effect).

Sex

Ofelia's mother submits physically to her new husband, though the abusiveness is never sexual, per se (the concern here is gendered behavior); prepubescent Ofelia remains sexually innocent throughout the film, though she is "seduced" (in an abstract way) by the sinuous, strange faun.

Language

Some infrequent language (all in subtitles), including "assholes," "f--k" and "f--ked up," "hell," "bitch," and "son of a bitch."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs

In 1944, 11-year-old Ofelia (the phenomenal Ivana Baquero) is traveling with her pregnant mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil), en route to her new stepfather's military outpost in Northern Spain. But Capitán Vidal (Sergi López) has no interest in Ofelia or even her mother -- all he cares about is passing on his name and legacy to the son Carmen carries. Luckily for Ofelia, she meets Mercedes (Maribel Verdú), Vidal's housekeeper, who's secretly helping the maquis hiding in the woods while they plan strikes against the fascists. Ofelia's journey parallels Mercedes'; their stories are both fantastic and strange, incorporating conventions of fairy and folk tales, legends, and myths. As Ofelia tells her unborn brother stories about the war she's seen, she opens the way into her own fantasy-filled present, which is overseen by a Faun (Doug Jones). He identifies her as the Underground Realm's long-missing Princess Moanna and hands her a book full of blank pages, declaring that it will show her future. She must follow its instructions to discover whether she's worthy of being the princess and returning to her kingdom.

Is it any good?

4
Part fairy tale, part adventure story, and part political allegory, PAN'S LABYRINTH (El Laberinto del Fauno) is, most wonderfully, focused on a brave little girl.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 49 reviews.

Age 13+
5

Posted on 01/04/09 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 17+
1


Posted on 01/03/09 by Theosdoren Adult contributor

I couldn't Sleep Because of the Violence I saw!!!

I only watched the first 10 minutes or so when I saw a horribly violent scene where a man is beaten to death with a wine bottle, then his father is shot in cold blood! Horrible, just horrible! I watch movies to be entertained not haunted!
5

Posted on 07/14/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 10

5


Posted on 04/20/08 by Frylock234 Kid contributor, age 9

pretty voilent

great movie, but more for people who can deal with having to read subtitles throughout the movie 'cause the whole movie is spoken in spanish, and creepieness. there are alot of scary characters and scenes. I love this movie
4


Posted on 02/25/08 by dachshundlover Kid contributor, age 12

4


Posted on 02/15/08 by meganargetlam Kid contributor, age 13

A little bit too Violent

This movie was very good. The only thing wrong with it was the violence. A woman slices a man's mouth open, a man's leg is amputated, the Captain beats a man's nose off with a bottle, and quite a few other violent moments. Some of the creatures are disturbing, such as the pale man, but not outright scary. In my mind the Faun was suggesting that he and Ofelia would sometime form a relationship, and have a child. He orders Ofelia to bring her brother to the portal, so he can kill the child. She decides against this, and her choice is rewarded. Overall, this is a good movie, but not appropiate for younger teens.
5


Posted on 12/02/07 by Charlieast Kid contributor, age 15

This is a beautiful film. Not only is it a visual masterpiece, but the story is incredible as well. There are, however, several particularly disturbing scenes that are certainly not for young or squemish eyes. The language is intense throughout, but the film is in spanish so it doesn't have the same effect as it would were it spoken in english. Everyone should see this film (maturity permitting of course) if only to appreciate the power of the film itself.
5


Posted on 10/04/07 by Nate2427 Kid contributor, age 17

5


Posted on 09/29/07 by ac7193 Kid contributor, age 13

5

Posted on 08/20/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

Best movie ever.

This is an AWESOME movie. It is EXTREEMLY sad but it is great. You will cry!

See all 49 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 22 reviews.

Age 13+
5

Posted on 01/04/09 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 17+
1


Posted on 01/03/09 by Theosdoren Adult contributor

I couldn't Sleep Because of the Violence I saw!!!

I only watched the first 10 minutes or so when I saw a horribly violent scene where a man is beaten to death with a wine bottle, then his father is shot in cold blood! Horrible, just horrible! I watch movies to be entertained not haunted!
Age 17+
4

Posted on 07/19/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Not for kids

This is a lovely fantasy, fairy tale, but it certainly isn't for kids. There are some really disturbingly violent and even gorey type scenes. With a lot of subtext that wouldn't be comprehendable to children.
Age 13+
4


Posted on 07/03/07 by neji hyuga Adult contributor

Age 17+
3


Posted on 06/12/07 by fiona Adult contributor

A well-crafted movie - but very disturbng.

This movie is well made - but I didn't enjoy it much! It is very graphically violent and throughout the movie I fear for the little 11 year-old girl (whom we see badly hurt at the beginning of the movie). The fairy-tale fantasy sequences are well done, the effects wonderful, but are extremely frightening on a primal, archetypal level. This is definately not a movie for children to watch. There is a menace throughout in both real and the parallel fantasy worlds.
Age 17+
4


Posted on 06/08/07 by cortright5 Adult contributor

Caution for Parents

I would not let my teenager see this film without my presence. This was a heavy dark tale with plenty of disturbing images. This fantasy film in my opinion is more suitable for adults and is excellent. This film maker takes you to a very dark tale with a predictable ending but tragic.
Age 17+
4


Posted on 06/05/07 by monikafrancois Adult contributor

Excellent, but phenomenally violent

This is an amazing film. It gives you a strong sense of the history of the Spanish Civil War and the visual effects are stunning. The violence level is very high, however, and we're not talking your average "blow 'em up," explosions galore, silly action flick. I had the impression that this was a movie about a girl's escapist fantasy world. It is perhaps half that. The other half comprises her extremely cruel--a caricature, really--stepfather, who tortures everyone around him. The scenes of violence in this film are extremely graphic and personal, to the point of being simply gratuitous. Torture, sawing-off of limbs, point-blank shooting of innocents; it certainly gets the point across that the Fascists were evil people, but I would argue that it is excessive. Please don't take your kids to this movie. Encourage them to see it when they are 17 or so. Again, it is an excellent film, but it is more violent than you probably are expecting it to be.
Age 13+
5


Posted on 06/01/07 by m0nde Adult contributor

A visually stunning movie with a message

If your child is enamoured of Middle Earth and Harry Potter, let them see this political masterpiece with you. Explain what is happening onscreen while watching it on DVD. Don't let them see it alone. The movie requires some understanding of history and an ability to read subtitles. It's definitely not for the very young. But children 11 and older should be able to get something of value from the experience.
Age 17+
2

Posted on 05/30/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Misleading

This movie was very misleading in representing fairy tale status. Not recomended for children, would not hold interest. Very brutal as far as inuendo to violence, does not show most parts. Very boring and the subtitles makes it annoying.
Age 13+
5


Posted on 05/26/07 by Kakulukia Adult contributor

The best movie of the year so far!

El Laberinto del Fauno is the best movie I have seen this year! It's a great war movie (Spanish Civil War), a great fantasy story and a great horror movie all at once!
See all 22 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 27 reviews.

5

Posted on 07/14/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 10

5


Posted on 04/20/08 by Frylock234 Kid contributor, age 9

pretty voilent

great movie, but more for people who can deal with having to read subtitles throughout the movie 'cause the whole movie is spoken in spanish, and creepieness. there are alot of scary characters and scenes. I love this movie
4


Posted on 02/25/08 by dachshundlover Kid contributor, age 12

4


Posted on 02/15/08 by meganargetlam Kid contributor, age 13

A little bit too Violent

This movie was very good. The only thing wrong with it was the violence. A woman slices a man's mouth open, a man's leg is amputated, the Captain beats a man's nose off with a bottle, and quite a few other violent moments. Some of the creatures are disturbing, such as the pale man, but not outright scary. In my mind the Faun was suggesting that he and Ofelia would sometime form a relationship, and have a child. He orders Ofelia to bring her brother to the portal, so he can kill the child. She decides against this, and her choice is rewarded. Overall, this is a good movie, but not appropiate for younger teens.
5


Posted on 12/02/07 by Charlieast Kid contributor, age 15

This is a beautiful film. Not only is it a visual masterpiece, but the story is incredible as well. There are, however, several particularly disturbing scenes that are certainly not for young or squemish eyes. The language is intense throughout, but the film is in spanish so it doesn't have the same effect as it would were it spoken in english. Everyone should see this film (maturity permitting of course) if only to appreciate the power of the film itself.
5


Posted on 10/04/07 by Nate2427 Kid contributor, age 17

5


Posted on 09/29/07 by ac7193 Kid contributor, age 13

5

Posted on 08/20/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

Best movie ever.

This is an AWESOME movie. It is EXTREEMLY sad but it is great. You will cry!
5

Posted on 08/05/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

Wonderful, if you're the right age.

Pan's Labyrinth, although the main character is eleven years old, is not what I would a kid's movie. Even though I am not easily frightened or disturbed by violence, I'll admit that there were some parts I had to partially look away at, I.E The Pale Man and when the farmer's head was smashed against a bottle. The language is not a big deal, and there is no sexual content in this movie. If you can handle a bit of violence and blood, it'd be good to give this movie a shot.
4


Posted on 07/24/07 by cheeseandcrackers Kid contributor, age 11

lots of violence but a very good movie

There were a few parts where I sorta felt like looking away because of the violence. Violence is pretty much the only big issue in this film, including a bloody scene involving smashing a bottle on a mans face and cheek getting sliced. The movies goes back and forth from a kid friendly fairy tale feeling to a violent war setting. I would say 14+.
See all 27 kids reviews >
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