The Devil's Backbone (2001)

7.4R106 minDirector: Guillermo del Toro

2001 film by Guillermo del Toro

The Devil's Backbone (Spanish: El espinazo del diablo) is a 2001 Spanish-language gothic horror film directed by Guillermo del Toro, and written by del Toro, David Muñoz, and Antonio Trashorras. Set in Spain, 1939, during the final year of the Spanish Civil War, the film follows a boy who is left in an orphanage operated by Republican loyalists and haunted by the ghost of a recently deceased boy. It stars Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi, Irene Visedo, Fernando Tielve in his film debut, and Íñigo Garcés. Released in Spain by Warner Sogefilms on 20 April 2001, the film received mostly positive reviews from critics.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Devil's Backbone about?
The Devil's Backbone (2001) — It is 1939, the end of three years of bloody civil war in Spain, and General Franco's right-wing Nationalists are poised to defeat the left-wing Republican forces. A ten-year-old boy named Carlos, the son of a fallen Republican war hero, is left by his tutor in an orphanage in th
Is The Devil's Backbone based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Devil's Backbone scary?
Content rating: R. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.