The Devil's Backbone Movie Review 2001

In the final days of the Spanish Civil War, staff and children at a remote orphanage run by loyalists Casares (Luppi) and Carmen (Paredes) prepare for an uncertain fate. Carlos (Tielve) is a new arrival who quickly learns that there are many secrets, including the (possible) ghost of schoolboy Santi. Sinister janitor Jacinto (Noriega) also thinks there's gold hidden somewhere and is determined to find it. Uneasy combination of history and the supernatural. Spanish with subtitles.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 106 minutes.
Originally from Spanish, Mexican.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Childhood Visions, Ghosts, Ghouls, & Goblins, Betrayal, School Daze, Jealousy, Spain, Period Piece: 1930s, Adoption & Orphans, Spanish Civil War

Screenplay

Guillermo del Toro, Antonio Trashorros, David Munoz

Cast

Marisa Paredes, Federico Luppi, Eduardo Noriega, Fernando Tielve, Inigo Garces, Irene Visedo, Berta Ojea

Cinematography

Guillermo Navarro

Director

Guillermo del Toro

Music

Javier Navarrete

Other

Miguel Rejas, Luis de la Madrid, Cesar Macarron, Jose Vico

Producer

Bertha Navarro, Augustin Almodovar, El Deseo, Tequila Gang, Anhelo Producciones, Sony Pictures Classics