***

EL ORFANATO

J.A. Bayona and Sergio G. Sánchez have crafted one of the creepiest films I've ever seen. I haven't felt this rapt with tension in a hellish vision of a child's nightmare since Poltergeist. I went into the movie thinking "how much can a kid in a mask that is a ghost hold any tension or scare me?" This is where Bayona and Sánchez crank up a truly horrific film into high gear that rarely lets up and keeps even a jaded horror fan like me not sure what might happen next.

The realization of this cinematic nightmare of an orphanage is impeccable and haunting on all levels. The sound design ebbs and flows with each creaking, cranking, metal clashing and gets captured with such spiraling ambiance you never quite know when to let your guard up. Combine the sound design with the striking visuals and pale yet very childlike props and you have one dense mix of creepy hell. Really the only film that comes to mind in combining childlike worlds with nightmarish landscapes is Argento's Deep Red. I also liked the repeated POV shots which suggest we at times are experience the film from not only Laura's point of view but also that of Tomas.

I don't know if the main ghost of this tale is particularly scary enough or on screen enough to get every audience member into the film. If you have ever heard a bump in the night that was something other than the living world or heard a ghost story that made your hair stand straight up by the end, then this is the film for you. I leaped into the film with the treasure hunt device. This creeped me out more than most as at my parents house (and still happens from time to time) various objects will disappear and then days or weeks later they will all show up together in a stray box somewhere. When things disappear we often times try and find a way to rationalize it. Surely nothing from out of this living world was behind it? Yet how did things disappear to reappear. I'm sure sometimes you could write it off but I think many have probably encountered experiences that were just too hard to explain. This element of the film really got me behind it. Belén Rueda as Laura has to come to grips with the fact her son might be lost forever while at the same time the answer of an ghost culprit behind it all looms and churns as she descends further and further into the mystery of Simon's disappearance. She shines in moments where she has absolutely no dialogue what so ever and just delivers one amazing spine tingling performance. Acting isn't just reading lines and hitting marks it's about going for it and getting lost in a scene or moment and in this film Rueda leaves nothing behind in a very daring performance. She goes from trying to be rational to full on mom in desperation trying to do any and everything to get her child back. As I sat on the edge of my seat I really was wondering how this woman on the edge would survive in this nightmarish world that clearly was too big for her or anyone else to overcome. This was a really refreshing change when I consider most horror or creepy films I can easily predict it by the number once the first act is in the books.

I would say the creep factor is pretty divisive. Your either going to be on the edge of your seat or find yourself a loof and not feeling it. There doesn't seem to be any inbetween love for this film - you love it or would rather be yodeling to the Sound of Music. Don't see this film in a quite theater. When it gets a wide release this December be sure and see it at the best theater you have around you. If you go in expecting a creepy film versus a horror film I think you will definitely get a lot more out of it.

Overall I would say the creep factor is pretty divisive. Your either going to be on the edge of your seat or find yourself a loof and not feeling it. There doesn't seem to be any inbetween love for this film - you love it or would rather be yodeling to the Sound of Music. I'm not entirely 100% what to make of the ending on first passing other than to say it really has other than Inside (the bloody French baby movie) one of the most haunting and *#(# $@ endings I've seen at the cinema in a long time.

SPOILERS
*
*
*
*
*
I'm really not used to seeing films where in essence the bad guy wins. Typically the protagonist overcomes all obstacles and ultimately thwarts what stands in its way. Here you could certainly argue that Tomas creates a master plan to get the mother he never had (at the expense of our lead character probably having to kill herself). Sure she gets her kid back but at the same time Tomas wins. The bad guy wins. This is at least how I read it on a first pass. I guess many would argue "oh the poor broken hearted mother loves beyond herself to make a sacrifice to be with and care for all the kids if it means she can be reunited with her own).

***

STARDUST

I hadn't seen this Matthew Vaughn directed film until today. I'm a huge fan of Layer Cake and I really had heard mixed things on how he was able to realize the fantasty world of Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess with Stardust. Fans of his previous effort might be disappointed that there is no sordid or grittiness to this film. Leave your knives and brain at home. This is a movie completely crafted around a center of buoyant exuberance for love and fantasy. Stardust feels like a love letter to The Princess Bride in many facets and works best as a light hearted fantasy adventure. It never fully rises to its material and often at times seems like a ship with no sails that sort of wonders aimlessly. This episodic aspect of the film held me back from every fully engaging in the main character of Tristan or various key moments. I wanted to like it but at times where it wanted to really soar it felt more like a musical without an orchestra. Vaughn still crafts some nifty panning and sweeping camera trickery to keep it interesting and the acting really provides needed comedic punches throughout from performers we don't always associate with comedy. De Niro plays against type as a pirate captain that just wants everyone to give him a break so he can dress up like a woman yet still go arrrrrrrrhhh matey as if he was a sinister badass. This is certainly about as far from Travis Bickle as one could imagine for him.

Michelle Pfeiffer gets back to her Witches of Eastwick roots but I like her better when she is evil but not a made up looking creature. Danes is interesting but really a bit too soft and not enough biting chemistry for me to really believe her romantic heart and longing.

Overall a fun film that works in its own way and has charm to spare to make up for the narrative inconsistencies.