Pan's Labyrinth

Name: Pan's Labyrinth
Item: Pan's Labyrinth
Rating: 4
Author: Cynthia Fuchs

Movie review by

Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media

Parents recommendPopular with kids

Common Sense says

age 15+

(i)

Brilliant, poignant fairy tale isn't for kids.

R
2006
120 minutes

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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 53 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 73 reviews

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Pan's Labyrinth

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

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.

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."

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

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

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What 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."

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User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Parent of a 5-year-old Written byslantmaster March 20, 2011

age 12+

This is a complex film for complex viewers. Considering it's in subtitles, younger kids would not be able to watch it, it requires a good reader to keep up... Continue reading

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Parent Written byjumpinj September 28, 2012

age 4+

Well, to others this may seem a bit mature for smaller kids, whereas I think it's great for kids 4 and up, that's my opinion. I grew up on horror, though I wouldn't let my child near many of the movies I saw at that age I believe fairy tales are meant to have that dark, creepy edge that this film has: the creepy character designs, the odd habits, the frightening looking labyrinth itself. This all adds to a child's imagination, I probably would've never become an artist if it weren't for a lot of what I grew up on. The stuff that makes you think visually and story-wise outside of the box. Would I let a four year old watch Robocop? No, but Pan's Labyrinth? Yes.

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Teen, 13 years old Written byduckiehat June 15, 2020

age 12+

its not bad

I watched it last night and it was actually a really good movie! lots happened and good plot. on the other hand, nothing too scary happened. the pale man was pr... Continue reading

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Teen, 16 years old Written bysunflowerfieldddd June 12, 2020

age 14+

amazing movie but terrifying

i’m personally a scaredy-cat, I can’t watch most horror movies and this movie still scares me, but if you’re mature enough to not be traumatized by it, definite... Continue reading

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What's the story?

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?

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.

Talk to your kids about ...

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?

Movie details

In theaters: December 29, 2006
On DVD or streaming: May 15, 2007
Cast: Ivana Baquero, Maribel Verdu, Sergi Lopez
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Studio: Picturehouse
Genre: Fantasy
Run time: 120 minutes
MPAA rating: R
MPAA explanation: graphic violence and some language.
Last updated: September 26, 2019

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