Rent The Devil's Backbone (2001)
3.6 of 5 from 264 ratings
1h 43min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- As General Francos fascists close in on victory during the final days of the Spanish Civil War, 12-year-old Carlos (Fernando Tielve) arrives at a remote orphanage for children of left-wing families. Soon after arriving, Carlos discovers the orphanage is haunted by Santi (Junio Valverde), a dead boy who stalks the buildings dark hallways and seeks revenge for his tragic death...
- Actors:
- Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi, Fernando Tielve, Íñigo Garcés, Irene Visedo, José Manuel Lorenzo, Francisco Maestre, Junio Valverde, Berta Ojea, Adrián Lamana, Daniel Esparza, Miguel Ortiz, Juan Carlos Vellido, Javier Bódalo, Víctor Elías, José Luis Torrijo, Álvaro Vega, Jonás Batuecas, Daniel Cuño
- Directors:
- Guillermo Del Toro
- Producers:
- Agustín Almodóvar, Bertha Navarro
- Writers:
- Guillermo Del Toro, Antonio Trashorras, David Muñoz
- Aka:
- El Espinazo del diablo / Rape Zombie Side-Story: Hardcore of the Dead
- Studio:
- Optimum
- Genres:
- Drama, Horror, Thrillers
- Collections:
- Horror, New waves of Latin American Cinema, The Best Ghost and Haunted House Films, The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Pedro Almodóvar, What to watch by country
- Countries:
- Spain
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 28/02/2011
- Run Time:
- 107 minutes
- Languages:
- Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English
- DVD Regions:
- Region 2
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
- Colour:
- Colour
- Bonus:
- Video prologue
- Commentary from director Guillermo Del Toro
- Behind the scenes featurette
- Storyboard to screen sequences
- Of ghosts and fauns: Del Toro's Spanish civil war
- Special effect sequence breakdown
- Theatrical trailer
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 13/04/2026
- Run Time:
- 108 minutes
- Languages:
- Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English
- DVD Regions:
- Region 0 (All)
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- (0) All
- Bonus:
- New - Introduction by Director Guillermo del Toro
- Audio Commentary with Director Guillermo del Toro (Sony)
- Audio Commentary with Director Guillermo del Toro (Optimum)
- Audio Commentary with Director Guillermo del Toro and Cinematographer Guillermo Navarro
- Video Prologue (Intro by Guillermo del Toro)
- Behind the Scenes
- Of Ghosts and Fauns: Del Toro's Spanish Civil War
- Original EPK Featurette
- "Que es un Fantasma?" - The Making of 'The Devil's Backbone'
- Deleted Scenes: with Optional Commentary
- Sketch, Storyboard, Screen: Multi-Angle
- Director's Notebook
- Picture Gallery
- Theatrical Trailer
- Special Effects Featurettes
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Reviews (5) of The Devil's Backbone
Old-school scares - The Devil's Backbone review by Kurtz
If you though there was a bit too much CGI in “Pan’s Labyrinth” and the estimable “Hellboy” series, this film shows that even before people started throwing money at him, del Toro was a brilliant director who knew how to tease an audience and get the best out of young actors. With barely any of the jump-scares or gore so beloved of modern directors, he builds an atmosphere of dread and foreboding, relying on old-fashioned spookiness rather than the more visceral stuff we’ve come to expect. But it’s not just a satisfyingly scary ghost story- there are love triangles, new-kid-in-school ordeals and it’s all played out against the turbulent backdrop of the Spanish Civil War. Just brilliant.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Intelligent Spanish horror film - The Devil's Backbone review by PV
I liked this film. As always with Spanish/Mexican movies, it was gruesome sith blood dripping off everything; and as usual in films from catholic countries, children feature heavily - representing innocence. Also, so many movies in Spanish are obsessed with the Spanish Civil War - perhaps because the ghosts of that are still haunting everyone. It is a bit like the Turn of the Screw, Spanish-style. Sinister, moral, interesting to watch - and some moments of real tension. Better than Harry Potter. Recommended.
0 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Superbly atmospheric period ghost tale - The Devil's Backbone review by CD
This is the second time I have seen this film. It excels on many different aspects - the characterisation, acting, the brooding context of the Spanish civil war, the quality of performance brought out from the children in the cast, and the emotional range of the film which covers unrequited love, greed , sexual desire and murderous intent. The tension and quality of this film is sustained to the end and there are some great chilling moments throughout.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.