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The Orphanage (R, 2008)

common sense media says

Decent old-school ghost story, Spanish-style.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that even though the R-rating is too harsh, brief but grotesque visuals let us know the filmmakers could do worse if they wanted to. Disturbing imagery includes a mutilated victim of a car collision and a deformed kid with a skull-like face. A suicide attempt figures in the ending. There is a theme of infanticide and dead children. Nothing is shown, but we get news of children causing a playmate's death, then being killed (by poison) themselves. An HIV-positive character is part of the plot, and it's pretty much given as a death sentence.

Positive messages: Even the lonely ghosts turn out not to be "evil" (though they seem to be vengeful, and capable of causing harm). One, who is hideously deformed, turns out to be not as monstrous as his appearance. There is a sense of motherly heroics and parental sacrifice in the leading lady -- despite the mortal danger. Simon's maintenance troubles and restlessness as an adopted child might not set a positive tone in some foster households.
Violence: An old woman fatally mutilated after being struck by a car (tearing her jaws open grotesquely). A character's fingers caught in a slamming door, causing a fingernail to come off. A bloody leg injury. There is a theme of infanticide and dead children. Nothing is shown, but we get news of children causing a playmate's death, then being killed (by poison) themselves.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: The F-word uttered once (in the Spanish-language, English-subtitled version).
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: An intentional drug overdose (not for recreational purposes).
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More on The Orphanage

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about what parts of the movie are scariest, and does the (generally) non-gore approach work? Do you agree with Laura's choice at the end? How does this film stack up to other favorite movie ghost tales?

What's the story?

What's the story?
A Spanish-made ghost tale, THE ORPHANAGE (original tite: "El Orfanato") happens at a sprawling old mansion, a former orphanage, looming by the seacoast. Laura (Belen Rueda) used to be housed here as a child. Now she's a doctor, and she, along with her physician husband Carlos (kind of odd we never see them do any actual work) buy the building and move in with their own adopted boy Simon (Roger Princep). Simon is dying of AIDS, but the doting parents keep it a secret -- that plus the fact that he's not really their child. Disturbingly, Simon learns these things anyway. He claims his new "imaginary" friends in the mansion have told him. After strange glimpses of disappearing kids, and clues that something terrible happened to the orphanage children after Laura left, Simon vanishes. His adoptive mom turns to psychics and mediums to desperately come up with an answer.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
In the crowded field of movie ghost stories, The Orphanage belongs with the ones like The Haunting (1961) and The Changeling that try to use mood and suspense, rather than blood/gore/sex/bad taste, to create evoke shock value. Even so, sharp-witted viewers of any age might be asking themselves sensible questions, like why didn't this family, uh, check out the tragic history of the creepy old building before buying it? But there's a neat dark-fairy-tale atmosphere, a minimum of gross-outs (except a horribly mangled victim of roadkill), and a really clever way the script turns the Peter Pan plot inside-out, to suit a more modern and ominous story of Really Lost Boys (and girls). Give this one a chance on Halloween, subtitles and all.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: New Line
Director: J.A. Bayona
Cast: Belen Rueda, Geraldine Chaplin, Roger Princep
Genre: Horror
Run time: 105 minutes
Theatrical release: January 11, 2008
DVD release: April 22, 2008
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: some disturbing content
This review was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

nightslayer900
kid, 11 years old
7
 
LOVE IT
it was such a great film, i wouldnt say it was quite the horror genre id put it in the sad genres i nearly cried at the end when she killed her self just to be with her old friends and son
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astist7
teen, 18 years old
14
 
I loved this movie passionately.
Have you ever noticed that horror movies nowadays are just become hack 'n' slash, sexed up, gored out movies without any real emotion or feeling?
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IlBurgero
kid, 12 years old
11
 
I watch the trailer - spooky, intruiging - AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, I SAW THE TRAILER! IT LOOKS HORRYFYING, BUT GREAT! I THINK I'LL GET way TOO SCARED
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Doodelium
kid, 13 years old
10
 
This is one of the best horror movies ever made
This movie was really, really scary. But it was also unlike any horror movie of the decade. It wasn't cliche like every horror movie seems to be and it was good. This is up there with Drag Me to Hell. An amazing movie.
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jfmp501
teen, 18 years old
8
 
Great Thriller/Drama, might be a little disturbing to young kids
For an R-Rated movie, The Orphanage is surprising appropriate, and could have easily been PG-13. There is no sex or nudity at all, and there are only two swears (including one F-word) although they only appear in the subtitles since the audio is in Spanish. There is even very little gore or violence-although there is one scene where we get a 5-second glance at the mutilated face of a car crash victim; in another scene, we get a quick glance at the distorted face of a child born with facial deformities. Other than that, though, there are no disturbing or gory images. Young children may be disturbed by some elements in the plotline, though. Although there is little gore, The Orphanage is still meant to be a psychological horror film, so its overall tone is very dark and creepy. A theme of dead/dying children is present throughout, including some talk of murdered children and an instance of suicide. In the beginning of the film, a child is said to be HIV positive (nothing sexual is implied). The end of the film is very tragic but moving, young kids may find it upsetting though. Overall, this is an extremely poignant film about a mother's undying love as she searches for her missing son. It is beautifully written and has an excellent storyline. If your kids are uncomfortable about talk of death, or if you are not comfortable with your kids hearing talk of death, this may not be the movie for you. Other than that, though, there is no real inappropriate content. My 9-year-old sister watched this and was fine. In my opinion, this would be completely appropriate for anyone 13+; for younger kids, you should judge for yourself on a case-by-case basis. As long as your kids are not easily scared, The Orphanage is okay to watch as a family movie.
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danielellarby
teen, 14 years old
13
 
Sanish horror movie
Very entertaining, sweet and well acted out movie. With a great performance by Belén Rueda and a captivating and absorbing plot that will transfix you till the end. Even though there may be a scene of a little gore this movie is more like a drama since not all of the movie is horror and it focusses quite a bit on the characters relationships and the grief of the loss of a loved one.
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Xeli
teen, 16 years old
 
Really sweet and sad!
This is a really good horror movie. Its suspenseful but it's not very bloody or anything. Its a really good story and its really sad!
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NeonKennedy
adult
11
 
good movie. It does get a little slow.
This ghost movie was most likely not made for little kids. Dark themes include: a little boy gets trapped in his own house and dies of AIDES, it is implied that young children bully a deformed child. a woman who works at an orphanage poisons and murders the children. A woman also becomes bloody road kill. The movie can be very spooky (when you watch it alone) but it is also engaging as the main character gets more involved in the mystery of ghosts.
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milkandhoney
teen, 15 years old
10
 
LOVED IT
i loved it it wasn't really scary but it had a great story and was very much effective in the horror genre i loved tomas and his head bag thing i loved loved loved the costume i know he was meant to be scary and all but he's soo cute i just wanna adopt him :P
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Hippieguh
teen, 16 years old
13
 
An all around incredible movie!!!
This movie is a good old fashioned scary movie. It makes you think. No stupid hollywood bloody, gory, stupid stuff in it. its just an all around great movie! i would recommend to anyone who likes scary movies.
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Twilightluver16
teen, 16 years old
12
 
sooooo scarey
I watched this movie the other day and it was really scarey!!! The only thing that was not really scarey in the movie was the childs face i actually felt bad for the kid! But besides that it was super scarey!!!!!!!!
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