Jump to content

The Devil's Backbone: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
mNo edit summary
 
(46 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|2001 film directed by Guillermo del Toro}}
{{Short description|2001 film by Guillermo del Toro}}
{{About|the 2001 film|the 1970 film|The Deserter (1970 film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = The Devil's Backbone
| name = The Devil's Backbone
| image = Espinazo del diablo poster.jpg
| image = Espinazo del diablo poster.jpg
| caption = Original Spanish-language poster
| caption = Spanish theatrical release poster
| native_name = {{Infobox name module|es|El espinazo del diablo}}
| director = [[Guillermo del Toro]]
| director = [[Guillermo del Toro]]
| producers = {{Plain list|
| writer = {{Plainlist|
* [[Agustín Almodóvar]]
* Bertha Navarro
}}
| writers = {{Plain list|
* Guillermo del Toro
* Guillermo del Toro
* [[David Muñoz (director)|David Muñoz]]
* [[David Muñoz (director)|David Muñoz]]
* [[Antonio Trashorras]]
* [[Antonio Trashorras]]
}}
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* [[Agustín Almodóvar]]
* Bertha Navarro
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Marisa Paredes]]
* [[Marisa Paredes]]
* [[Eduardo Noriega (Spanish actor)|Eduardo Noriega]]
* [[Eduardo Noriega (Spanish actor)|Eduardo Noriega]]
* [[Federico Luppi]]
* [[Federico Luppi]]
* [[Irene Visedo]]
* [[Fernando Tielve]]
* [[Fernando Tielve]]
* Íñigo Garcés
* Íñigo Garcés
}}
}}
| narrator = Federico Luppi
| narrator = Federico Luppi
| music = [[Javier Navarrete]]
| music = [[Javier Navarrete]]
| cinematography = [[Guillermo Navarro]]
| cinematography = [[Guillermo Navarro]]
| editing = Luis De La Madrid
| editing = Luis De La Madrid
| production_companies = {{Plain list|
| studio = {{Plainlist|
* [[Canal+|Canal+ España]]
* [[El Deseo|El Deseo, S.A.]]
* Tequila Gang
* Tequila Gang
* Sogepaq
* Sogepaq
* [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+ España]]
* Anhelo Producciones
* Anhelo Producciones
* [[El Deseo]]
}}
}}
| distributor = [[Warner Bros.|Warner Sogefilms A.I.E.]] (Spain)
| distributor = [[Warner Sogefilms]] (Spain)
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2001|4|20|Spain}}
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2001|4|20|Spain}}
| runtime = 108 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 107:37--><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-devils-backbone-el-espinazo-del-diablo-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmziyodi|title=''The Devil's Backbone - El Espinazo del Diablo'' (15)|publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|date=13 September 2001|access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref><ref name=criterion>{{cite web|url=https://www.criterion.com/films/27914-the-devil-s-backbone|title=The Devil's Backbone (2001)|publisher=The Criterion Collection|access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref>
| runtime = 108 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 107:37--><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-devils-backbone-el-espinazo-del-diablo-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmziyodi|title=''The Devil's Backbone - El Espinazo del Diablo'' (15)|publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|date=13 September 2001|access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref><ref name=criterion>{{cite web|url=https://www.criterion.com/films/27914-the-devil-s-backbone|title=The Devil's Backbone (2001)|publisher=The Criterion Collection|access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref>
|country = {{Plain list|
| country = {{Plain list|
* Spain
* Spain
* Mexico
* Mexico
}}
}}
| language = Spanish
| language = Spanish
| budget = US$4.5 million
| budget = US$4.5 million
| gross = US$6.5 million
| gross = US$6.5 million
}}
}}
'''''The Devil's Backbone''''' ({{lang-es|'''El Espinazo del Diablo'''}}) is a 2001 [[Gothic fiction|gothic]] [[horror film]] directed by [[Guillermo del Toro]], and written by del Toro, [[David Muñoz (director)|David Muñoz]], and [[Antonio Trashorras]].


'''''The Devil's Backbone''''' ({{lang-es|'''El espinazo del diablo'''}}) is a 2001 [[Gothic fiction|gothic]] [[horror film]] directed by [[Guillermo del Toro]], and written by del Toro, [[David Muñoz (director)|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 faction (Spanish Civil War)|Republican loyalists]] and haunted by the ghost of a recently-deceased boy. It stars [[Marisa Paredes]], [[Eduardo Noriega (Spanish actor)|Eduardo Noriega]], [[Federico Luppi]], [[Irene Visedo]], [[Fernando Tielve]], and Íñigo Garcés. Released in Spain by [[Warner Sogefilms]] on 20 April 2001, the film received highly positive reviews from critics.
The film is set in [[Spain]], 1939, during the final year of the [[Spanish Civil War]]. It was released to positive reviews.


==Plot==
==Plot==
Casares, a doctor, and his friend's wife Carmen operate a small orphanage in a remote part of Spain during the [[Spanish Civil War]]. Helping the couple are Jacinto, the groundskeeper, and his fiancée Conchita, a teacher. Casares and Carmen support the [[Republican faction (Spanish Civil War)|Republican loyalists]], and are hiding a large cache of gold being used to back the Republican treasury; the orphanage has also been subject to attacks from [[Francisco Franco]]'s troops, and an inert bomb sits in the courtyard.
Casares, a doctor, and his friend's wife Carmen operate a small orphanage in a remote part of Spain during the [[Spanish Civil War]]. Helping the couple are Jacinto, the groundskeeper (and former orphan), and his fiancée Conchita, a teacher. Casares and Carmen support the [[Republican faction (Spanish Civil War)|Republican loyalists]], hiding a large cache of gold being used to back the Republican treasury. The orphanage has been subject to attacks from [[Francisco Franco]]'s troops, and an inert bomb sits in the courtyard.


One day, an orphan named Carlos arrives with Ayala and Domínguez, two loyalists. Casares and Carmen take Carlos in, and he soon strikes up a friendship with Jaime, the orphanage bully, as well as Galvez and Owl. However, Carlos soon begins having visions of a mysterious entity, and hears stories about a child named Santi who went missing on the day the bomb was dropped in the courtyard. On his first night at the orphanage, Carlos is dared by Jaime to sneak to the kitchen for water after curfew. The boys reach the kitchen, but Jaime sneaks back to the dormitory, leaving Carlos alone. Carlos hears a whisper telling him that "many of you will die." Frightened, Carlos rushes outside, but is caught by Jacinto. The next morning, Casares asks who snuck out after curfew but Carlos claims he went alone. This, as well as Carlos saving Jaime from falling in a [[cistern]], earns him Jaime's friendship.
One day, an orphan named Carlos (unaware his father has been killed) arrives with Ayala and Domínguez, two loyalists. Casares and Carmen take Carlos in and he soon strikes up a friendship with Jaime, the orphanage bully, as well as Galvez and Owl (with Carlos left devastated when he suddenly finds himself left behind at the orphanage). Carlos soon begins having visions of a mysterious entity and hears stories about a child named Santi who went missing on the day the bomb was dropped in the courtyard. On his first night at the orphanage, Carlos is dared by Jaime to sneak to the kitchen for water after curfew and Carlos counters by daring Jaime to go with him. The boys reach the kitchen but Jaime hurries out after filling his pitcher, leaving Carlos alone. Carlos hears a whisper telling him that "many of you will die." Frightened, Carlos rushes outside and is caught by Jacinto. The next morning, Casares asks who snuck out after curfew but Carlos claims he went alone. This, as well as Carlos saving Jaime from falling in a [[cistern]], earns him Jaime's friendship.


Jacinto knows of the gold hidden at the orphanage, and uses his affair with Carmen as an opportunity to take her keys and search for the treasure. That night, the boys hear strange noises and Carlos decides to investigate. He sneaks out, and encounters a pale figure of a young boy with a bleeding wound on his head, which causes him to run back into the building. Later, after flipping through Jaime's sketchbook, Carlos finds a drawing of a ghostly figure labeled "Santi," leading him to suspect that Jaime knows more than the other boys.
Jacinto knows of the gold hidden at the orphanage and uses his affair with Carmen as an opportunity to take her keys and search for the treasure. That night, the boys hear strange noises and Carlos decides to investigate. He sneaks out and encounters a pale figure of a young boy with a bleeding wound on his head, which causes him to run back into the building. Later, Carlos finds a drawing of a ghostly figure labeled "Santi", leading him to suspect that Jaime knows more than the other boys.


Casares sees that Ayala has been captured by the [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|nationalists]]. Fearing Ayala will soon be tortured into revealing the gold’s location at the orphanage, he convinces Carmen that they must evacuate the children immediately. Jacinto overhears the conversation and confronts Carmen, demanding the stash of gold and crassly bringing up their affair in front of Casares. Enraged, Casares points a gun at Jacinto and forces him to leave.
Casares sees that Ayala has been captured by the [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|nationalists]]. Fearing Ayala will soon be tortured into revealing the gold’s location at the orphanage, he convinces Carmen that they must evacuate the children immediately. Jacinto overhears the conversation and confronts Carmen, demanding the stash of gold and crassly bringing up their affair in front of Casares. Enraged, Casares points a gun at Jacinto and forces him to leave.


As the orphans and faculty prepare to leave, Conchita discovers Jacinto pouring gasoline around the kitchen. She shoots him in the arm after he mocks her, causing a furious Jacinto to start a fire before fleeing the building. Carmen and fellow teacher Alma attempt to put out the fire, but fail to prevent an explosion; Alma is killed by the blast, as are several of the children. Casares finds a mortally wounded Carmen inside the building, and tearfully stays with her as she dies. Casares decides to remain in the charred orphanage with the surviving children, arming himself for Jacinto's return.
As the orphans and faculty prepare to leave, Conchita discovers Jacinto pouring gasoline around the kitchen. She shoots him in the arm after he mocks her, causing a furious Jacinto to start a fire before fleeing the building. Carmen and fellow teacher Alma attempt to put out the fire but fail to prevent an explosion; Alma is killed by the blast along with several of the children (Owl is injured by shrapnel). Casares finds a mortally wounded Carmen inside the building and tearfully stays with her as she dies. He decides to remain in the charred orphanage with the surviving children, arming himself for Jacinto's return.


The following night, Jaime reveals to Carlos the details of Santi's disappearance: Jaime and Santi had been collecting slugs at the cistern, when they spotted Jacinto attempting to open the safe where the gold was kept. Jaime managed to escape, but Jacinto cornered Santi and attempted to threaten him into keeping silent. In anger, Jacinto shoved Santi against a stone wall, giving him a severe head injury and sending him into shock. A panicked Jacinto then tied stones to Santi before sinking his body in the cistern. A terrified Jaime then ran into the courtyard, only to have the bomb land several feet from him moments later.
The following night, Jaime reveals to Carlos the details of Santi's disappearance: Jaime and Santi had been collecting slugs at the cistern when they spotted Jacinto attempting to open the safe where the gold was kept. Jaime managed to escape, but Jacinto cornered Santi and attempted to threaten him into keeping silent. In anger, Jacinto shoved Santi against a stone wall, giving him a severe head injury and sending him into shock. A panicked Jacinto then tied stones to Santi before sinking his body in the cistern. A terrified Jaime ran into the courtyard, only to have the bomb land several feet from him moments later.


Jaime insists that he is no longer scared of Jacinto, and will kill him if he returns. Conchita attempts to walk to the nearest town for help when she encounters Jacinto and two associates driving back to the orphanage to claim the gold. Jacinto threatens her with a knife, telling her to apologize for shooting him, but she insults him instead, and he stabs her to death.
Jaime insists that he is no longer scared of Jacinto and will kill him if he returns. Conchita attempts to walk to the nearest town for help when she encounters Jacinto and two associates driving back to the orphanage to claim the gold. Jacinto threatens her with a knife, telling her to apologize for shooting him, but she insults him and he stabs her to death.


Carlos has a final encounter with Santi's ghost, who he is no longer afraid of after hearing the circumstances of his death. The ghost quietly demands that Carlos bring Jacinto to him.
Carlos has a final encounter with Santi's ghost, who he is no longer afraid of after hearing the circumstances of his death. The ghost quietly demands that Carlos bring Jacinto to him.


Casares dies of his injuries as Jacinto and his associates reach the orphanage and imprison the orphans while they search for the gold. The two other men eventually grow impatient and leave, but Jacinto finds and takes the stash. Meanwhile, Jaime encourages the children to fight back. They fashion weapons from sharpened sticks and broken glass and attack Jacinto in the cellar, finally pushing him into the cistern where he had dumped Santi's body. Weighed down by the gold he was carrying, Jacinto struggles to resurface, but Santi's ghost appears from the depths and drags him to his death.
Casares dies of his injuries as Jacinto and his associates reach the orphanage and imprison the orphans while they search for the gold. The two other men eventually grow impatient and leave, but Jacinto finds and takes the stash. Jaime reveals Santi was murdered by Jacinto, encouraging the children to fight back and they fashion weapons from sharpened sticks and broken glass (as Galvez injures himself in a fall). The ghost of Casares then comes to free them from the locked door, leaving behind a monogrammed handkerchief. The children attack Jacinto in the cellar, finally pushing him into the cistern where he had dumped Santi's body. Weighed down by the gold he was carrying, Jacinto struggles to resurface but Santi's ghost appears from the depths and drags him to his death.


As the remaining children leave the orphanage and head to town, Casares' ghost watches them from the doorway.
As Jamie impatiently forces Carlos to get going after finding him tearfully saying goodbye to Casares, the remaining children (including a limping Galvez and a carried Owl) leave the orphanage and head to town (looking back Carlos last to leave), Casares' ghost watches them from the doorway.


==Cast==
==Cast==
* [[Fernando Tielve]] as Carlos, an orphan. He is described by del Toro in the DVD commentary as a force of [[innocence]]. Tielve had originally auditioned as an extra before [[Guillermo del Toro|del Toro]] decided to cast him as the lead. This was his film debut. Both Tielve and his co-star Iñigo Garcés had cameos as guerrilla soldiers in ''[[Pan's Labyrinth]]''.
* [[Fernando Tielve]] as Carlos, an orphan. He is described by del Toro in the DVD commentary as a force of [[innocence]]. Tielve had originally auditioned as an extra before [[Guillermo del Toro]] decided to cast him as the lead. This was his film debut. Both Tielve and his co-star Iñigo Garcés had cameos as guerrilla soldiers later in ''[[Pan's Labyrinth]]'' (2006).
* Íñigo Garcés as Jaime, the orphanage bully who later befriends Carlos.
* Íñigo Garcés as Jaime, the orphanage bully who later befriends Carlos.
* [[Eduardo Noriega (Spanish actor)|Eduardo Noriega]] as Jacinto, the caretaker.
* [[Eduardo Noriega (Spanish actor)|Eduardo Noriega]] as Jacinto, the caretaker.
Line 76: Line 79:
* [[Federico Luppi]] as Dr. Casares, the orphanage doctor.
* [[Federico Luppi]] as Dr. Casares, the orphanage doctor.
* {{ill|Junio Valverde|es}} as Santi, an orphan who becomes a [[ghost]].
* {{ill|Junio Valverde|es}} as Santi, an orphan who becomes a [[ghost]].
* [[Irene Visedo]] as Conchita, Jacinto's [[fiancée]].
* [[Irene Visedo]] as Conchita, Jacinto's [[fiancée]], who Jamie has a secret crush on.
* [[Adrián Lamana]], [[Javier González Sánchez]] and [[Daniel Esparza]] as Galvez, Owl and Marcos, fellow orphans and part of Jamie's nighttime group.


==Production==
==Production==
Line 82: Line 86:
It was [[Independent film|independently produced]] by [[Agustín Almodóvar]] as an international co-production between [[Spain]] and [[Mexico]], and was filmed in [[Madrid]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kermode|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Kermode|date=30 July 2013|title=The Devil's Backbone: The Past Is Never Dead . . .|url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/2850-the-devil-s-backbone-the-past-is-never-dead|magazine=The Current|publisher=[[The Criterion Collection]]}}</ref>
It was [[Independent film|independently produced]] by [[Agustín Almodóvar]] as an international co-production between [[Spain]] and [[Mexico]], and was filmed in [[Madrid]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kermode|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Kermode|date=30 July 2013|title=The Devil's Backbone: The Past Is Never Dead . . .|url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/2850-the-devil-s-backbone-the-past-is-never-dead|magazine=The Current|publisher=[[The Criterion Collection]]}}</ref>


Del Toro wrote the first draft before writing his debut film ''[[Cronos (film)|Cronos]]''. This "very different" version was set in the [[Mexican Revolution]] and focused not on a child's ghost but a "Christ with three arms".<ref>{{cite web|date=12 May 2013|title=Guillermo del Toro Q&A at Hero Complex Film Festival 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rjeFG130Mg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/6rjeFG130Mg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=24 May 2013|via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> According to del Toro, and as drawn in his notebooks, there were many iterations of the story, some of which included antagonists who were a "doddering ... old man with a needle," a "desiccated" ghost with black eyes as a caretaker (instead of the living Jacinto who terrorizes the orphans), and "beings who are red from head to foot."<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last=del Toro|first=Guillermo|title=Cabinet of Curiosities: My Notebooks, Collections, and Other Obsessions|publisher=Insight Editions / [[Harper Collins]]|others=Zicree, Marc Scott.|year=2013|isbn=978-0-06-208284-8|edition=1st|location=New York|pages=102–103, 105|oclc=857566627}}</ref>
[[Guillermo del Toro]] wrote the first draft before writing his debut film ''[[Cronos (film)|Cronos]]'' (1993). This "very different" version was set in the [[Mexican Revolution]] and focused not on a child's ghost but a "Christ with three arms".<ref>{{cite web|date=12 May 2013|title=Guillermo del Toro Q&A at Hero Complex Film Festival 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rjeFG130Mg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/6rjeFG130Mg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=24 May 2013|via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> According to del Toro, and as drawn in his notebooks, there were many iterations of the story, some of which included antagonists who were a "doddering ... old man with a needle," a "desiccated" ghost with black eyes as a caretaker (instead of the living Jacinto who terrorizes the orphans), and "beings who are red from head to foot."<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last=del Toro|first=Guillermo|title=Cabinet of Curiosities: My Notebooks, Collections, and Other Obsessions|publisher=Insight Editions / [[HarperCollins]]|others=Zicree, Marc Scott.|year=2013|isbn=978-0-06-208284-8|edition=1st|location=New York|pages=102–103, 105|oclc=857566627}}</ref>


As mentioned in the "Spanish Gothic" interview on the DVD, the name of the movie was initially to be taken from the "Devil's Backbone" mountain range setting in Mexico; this was changed when the movie wound up being set in Spain.<ref name="Criterion">{{cite web|url=https://criterionforum.org/Review/the-devils-backbone-the-criterion-collection-blu-ray |title=The Devil's Backbone |last=Galloway |first=Chris |publisher=CriterionForum.org |date=11 August 2013 |accessdate=28 February 2022}}</ref> One scene showed jars of a [[liqueur]] the doctor owned, each containing spiced rum called “[[Limbo#Limbo of Infants|Limbo]] water”, preserving a [[fetus]] that died from [[spina bifida]]. The doctor said the drink was rumored to cure impotence and was sold to fund the school. This became the origin of the name.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://25yearslatersite.com/2019/06/01/the-devils-backbone-unveiling-the-secrets-of-the-ghost-story/ |title=The Devil’s Backbone: Unveiling the Secrets of the Ghost Story |last=Mariamidze |first=Magda |publisher=25yearslatersite.com|accessdate=31 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/2002-03-15/the-devils-backbone/ |title=The Devil’s Backbone |last=Jones |first=Kimberley |publisher=[[Austin Chronicle]] |date=15 March 2002|accessdate=31 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= http://old.post-gazette.com/movies/20020222devil8.asp|title=Devil’s Backbone, The |last=Weiskind |first=Ron |publisher=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |date=22 February 2002 |accessdate=31 January 2022}}</ref>
As mentioned in the "Spanish Gothic" interview on the DVD, the name of the movie was initially to be taken from the "Devil's Backbone" mountain range setting in Mexico; this was changed when the movie wound up being set in Spain.<ref name="Criterion">{{cite web|url=https://criterionforum.org/Review/the-devils-backbone-the-criterion-collection-blu-ray |title=The Devil's Backbone |last=Galloway |first=Chris |publisher=CriterionForum.org |date=11 August 2013 |accessdate=28 February 2022}}</ref> One scene showed jars of a [[liqueur]] the doctor owned, each containing spiced rum called “[[Limbo#Limbo of Infants|Limbo]] water”, preserving a [[fetus]] that died from [[spina bifida]]. The doctor said the drink was rumored to cure impotence and was sold to fund the school. This became the origin of the name.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://25yearslatersite.com/2019/06/01/the-devils-backbone-unveiling-the-secrets-of-the-ghost-story/ |title=The Devil's Backbone: Unveiling the Secrets of the Ghost Story |last=Mariamidze |first=Magda |date=June 2019 |publisher=25yearslatersite.com|accessdate=31 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/2002-03-15/the-devils-backbone/ |title=The Devil's Backbone |last=Jones |first=Kimberley |publisher=[[Austin Chronicle]] |date=15 March 2002|accessdate=31 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= http://old.post-gazette.com/movies/20020222devil8.asp|title=Devil's Backbone, The |last=Weiskind |first=Ron |publisher=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |date=22 February 2002 |accessdate=31 January 2022}}</ref>


As to motivation for the villain, according to the actor who portrayed him (Eduardo Noriega), Jacinto "suffered a lot when he was a child at this orphanage. Somebody probably treated him wickedly: this is his heritage. And then there is the brutalizing effect of the War." Noriega further notes that "What Guillermo did was to write a biography of Jacinto (which went into Jacinto's parents, what they did in life, and more) and gave it to me."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Olson|first1=Danel|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/923553438|title=Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth: Studies in the Horror Film|last2=Baquero|first2=Ivana|last3=del Toro|first3=Guillermo|last4=Tielve|first4=Fernando|publisher=[[Centipede Press]]|year=2015|isbn=978-1-61347-101-2|edition=1st|location=Lakewood, Colorado|pages=269–280|chapter=Interview|oclc=923553438}}</ref>
As to motivation for the villain, according to the actor who portrayed him, [[Eduardo Noriega (Spanish actor)|Eduardo Noriega]], Jacinto "suffered a lot when he was a child at this orphanage. Somebody probably treated him wickedly: this is his heritage. And then there is the brutalizing effect of the War." Noriega further notes that "What Guillermo did was to write a biography of Jacinto (which went into Jacinto's parents, what they did in life, and more) and gave it to me."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Olson|first1=Danel|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/923553438|title=Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth: Studies in the Horror Film|last2=Baquero|first2=Ivana|last3=del Toro|first3=Guillermo|last4=Tielve|first4=Fernando|publisher=[[Centipede Press]]|year=2015|isbn=978-1-61347-101-2|edition=1st|location=Lakewood, Colorado|pages=269–280|chapter=Interview|oclc=923553438}}</ref>


DDT Studios in [[Barcelona]] created the final version of the crying ghost (victim and avenger) Santi, with his temple that resembled cracked, aged porcelain.<ref name=":0"/>
DDT Studios in [[Barcelona]] created the final version of the crying ghost (victim and avenger) Santi, with his temple that resembled cracked, aged porcelain.<ref name=":0"/>


==Reception==
==Reception==
===Critical response===
The response was overwhelmingly positive, though it did not receive the critical success that ''[[Pan's Labyrinth]]'' would in 2006. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has a 92% rating based on 119 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6 out of 10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Creepily atmospheric and haunting, ''The Devil's Backbone'' is both a potent ghost story and an intelligent political allegory."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/devils_backbone |title=The Devil's Backbone |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref> It also has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 on [[Metacritic]] based on 30 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-devils-backbone |title=The Devil's Backbone (2001) |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=21 August 2021 }}</ref>
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has a 93% rating based on 121 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Creepily atmospheric and haunting, ''The Devil's Backbone'' is both a potent ghost story and an intelligent political allegory."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/devils_backbone |title=The Devil's Backbone |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 based on 30 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-devils-backbone |title=The Devil's Backbone (2001) |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=21 August 2021 }}</ref>


[[Roger Ebert]] awarded the film 3 stars out of 4 and compared it favorably to ''[[The Others (2001 film)|The Others]]'', another ghost story released later in the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|date=21 December 2001|title=The Devil's Backbone|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-devils-backbone-2001|access-date=21 August 2021|website=[[RogerEbert.com]]}}</ref> Christopher Varney, of ''[[Film Threat]]'', claimed: "That 'The Devil's Backbone' makes any sense at all &ndash; with its many, swirling plotlines &ndash; seems like a little wonder."{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}} [[A. O. Scott]], of ''[[The New York Times]]'' gave the film a positive review, and claimed that "The director, Guillermo del Toro, balances dread with tenderness, and refracts the terror and sadness of the time through the eyes of a young boy, who only half-understands what he is witnessing."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Scott|first=A.O.|author-link=A. O. Scott|date=21 November 2001|title=Film Review; Dodging Bombs and Ghosts in Civil War Spain|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/21/movies/film-review-dodging-bombs-and-ghosts-in-civil-war-spain.html|url-status=live|url-access=limited|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
[[Roger Ebert]] awarded the film 3 stars out of 4 and compared it favorably to ''[[The Others (2001 film)|The Others]]'', another ghost story released later in the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|date=21 December 2001|title=The Devil's Backbone|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-devils-backbone-2001|access-date=21 August 2021|website=[[RogerEbert.com]]}}</ref> Christopher Varney, of ''[[Film Threat]]'', claimed: "That 'The Devil's Backbone' makes any sense at all &ndash; with its many, swirling plotlines &ndash; seems like a little wonder."{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}} [[A. O. Scott]], of ''[[The New York Times]]'' gave the film a positive review, and claimed that "The director, Guillermo del Toro, balances dread with tenderness, and refracts the terror and sadness of the time through the eyes of a young boy, who only half-understands what he is witnessing."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Scott|first=A.O.|author-link=A. O. Scott|date=21 November 2001|title=Film Review; Dodging Bombs and Ghosts in Civil War Spain|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/21/movies/film-review-dodging-bombs-and-ghosts-in-civil-war-spain.html|url-access=limited|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


Steve Biodrowski from ''[[Cinefantastique|Cinefantastique Online]]'' described the film as "rich in texture, characterization and themes. Besides being genuinely creepy, it is also surprisingly moving. It is, quite probably (and this is not a back-handed compliment) the saddest horror movie ever made." He also praised the performances as well as the [[special effect]]s, which he declared as "some of the best ever seen, easily matching work from the best US facilities; in fact, in at least one way they are even better."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Biodrowski|first=Steve|date=30 December 2007|title=Film Review: The Devil's Backbone|url=http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2007/12/30/film-review-the-devils-backbone/|magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106202211/http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2007/12/30/film-review-the-devils-backbone/|archive-date=6 January 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Biodrowski|first=Steve|year=2001|title=The Devil's Backbone – Horror Film Review|url=https://blog.cinefantastiqueonline.com/wordpress/film-review-the-devils-backbone/|url-status=live|magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] Online|access-date=2 February 2021}}</ref>
Steve Biodrowski from ''[[Cinefantastique|Cinefantastique Online]]'' described the film as "rich in texture, characterization and themes. Besides being genuinely creepy, it is also surprisingly moving. It is, quite probably (and this is not a back-handed compliment) the saddest horror movie ever made." He also praised the performances as well as the [[special effect]]s, which he declared as "some of the best ever seen, easily matching work from the best US facilities; in fact, in at least one way they are even better."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Biodrowski|first=Steve|date=30 December 2007|title=Film Review: The Devil's Backbone|url=http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2007/12/30/film-review-the-devils-backbone/|magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106202211/http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2007/12/30/film-review-the-devils-backbone/|archive-date=6 January 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Biodrowski|first=Steve|year=2001|title=The Devil's Backbone – Horror Film Review|url=https://blog.cinefantastiqueonline.com/wordpress/film-review-the-devils-backbone/|magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] Online|access-date=2 February 2021}}</ref>


{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}
{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}
The film was ranked at number 61 on [[Bravo (US TV network)|Bravo]]'s list ''[[The 100 Scariest Movie Moments|100 Scariest Movie Moments]]'' for its various scenes in which the ghost is seen.<ref>{{cite web|title=Greatest Scariest Movie Moments and Scenes: D-1|url=https://www.filmsite.org/scariestscenes5.html|access-date=21 August 2021|website=[[Filmsite]]}}</ref> [[Bloody Disgusting]] ranked the film at number 18 in their list ''Top 20 Horror Films of the Decade'', with the article calling the film "elegant and deeply-felt... it’s alternately a gut-wrenching portrait of childhood in a time of war and a skin-crawling, evocative nightmare."<ref>{{cite web|date=15 December 2009|title=00's Retrospect: Bloody Disgusting's Top 20 Films of the Decade...Part 1|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/18403/00s-retrospect-bloody-disgustings-top-20-films-of-the-decade-part-1/|access-date=21 August 2021|website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]}}</ref>
The film was ranked at number 61 on [[Bravo (US TV network)|Bravo]]'s list ''[[The 100 Scariest Movie Moments|100 Scariest Movie Moments]]'' for its various scenes in which the ghost is seen.<ref>{{cite web|title=Greatest Scariest Movie Moments and Scenes: D-1|url=https://www.filmsite.org/scariestscenes5.html|access-date=21 August 2021|website=[[Filmsite]]}}</ref> [[Bloody Disgusting]] ranked the film at number 18 in their list ''Top 20 Horror Films of the Decade'', with the article calling the film "elegant and deeply-felt... it’s alternately a gut-wrenching portrait of childhood in a time of war and a skin-crawling, evocative nightmare."<ref>{{cite web|date=15 December 2009|title=00's Retrospect: Bloody Disgusting's Top 20 Films of the Decade...Part 1|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/18403/00s-retrospect-bloody-disgustings-top-20-films-of-the-decade-part-1/|access-date=21 August 2021|website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col"|Award
! scope="col"|Category
! scope="col"|Nominee
! scope="col"|Result
! scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row"|[[ALMA Award]]s
| Outstanding Foreign Film
| ''The Devil's Backbone
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web| title=Nominees for 2002 ALMA Awards| url=https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2002/04/17/Nominees-for-2002-ALMA-Awards/18701019085817/| website=upi.com| date=17 April 2002| access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"|[[Imagine Film Festival|Amsterdam International Film Festival]]
| Grand Prize of European Fantasy<br />Film in Silver
| rowspan="2"|Guillermo del Toro
| {{won}}
|
|-
! scope="row"|Cinénygma - Luxembourg<br />International Film Festival
| Grand Prize of European Fantasy<br />Film in Gold
| {{nom}}
|
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="4"|[[Fangoria Chainsaw Awards]]
| Best Limited Release Film
| ''The Devil's Backbone''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| Best Supporting Actor
| Federico Luppi
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| Best Screenplay
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:11px;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;line-height:110%" |Guillermo del Toro,<br />Antonio Trashorras,<br />David Muñoz
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| Best Score
| Javier Navarrete
| {{nom}}
|
|-
! scope="row"|[[Fotogramas de Plata]]
| Best Movie Actor
| Eduardo Noriega
| {{nom}}
|
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3"|[[Festival international du film fantastique de Gérardmer|Gérardmer Film Festival]]
| Special Jury Prize
| rowspan="3"|Guillermo del Toro
| {{won}}
| rowspan="3" align="center"|<ref>{{cite web| title=THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE| url=https://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/devils-backbone| website=siskelfilmcenter.org| access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref>
|-
| Youth Jury Grand Prize
| {{won}}
|-
| International Critics Award
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"|[[Goya Awards]]
| [[Goya Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| José Vico
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[Goya Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effecs]]
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:11px;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;line-height:110%" |Reyes Abades,<br />Carmen Aguirre,<br />David Martí,<br />Alfonso Nieto,<br />Montse Ribé,<br /> Emilio Ruiz del Río
| {{nom}}
|
|-
! scope="row"| [[International Horror Guild Award]]s
| Best Movie
| ''The Devil's Backbone''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web| title=International Horror Guild Awards| url=https://www.sfadb.com/International_Horror_Guild_Awards_2002| website=sfadb.com| access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"|[[MTV Movie Awards Mexico]]
| Best Mexican Working in a Foreign Movie
| Guillermo del Toro
| {{won}}
|
|-
! scope="row"|{{abbr|[[Saturn Awards]]|Presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films}}
| [[Saturn Award for Best Horror Film|Best Horror Film]]
| ''The Devil's Backbone''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web| title=Nominees for 28th Annual Saturn Awards| url=https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2002/03/14/Nominees-for-28th-Annual-Saturn-Awards/99311016139883/| website=upi.com| date=14 March 2002| access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"|[[Young Artist Award]]s
| Best Young Actor in an International Film
| Fernando Tielve
| {{won}}
|
|}


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 110: Line 216:
* {{Official website|http://www.sonyclassics.com/devilsbackbone}}
* {{Official website|http://www.sonyclassics.com/devilsbackbone}}
* {{IMDb title|0256009}}
* {{IMDb title|0256009}}
* {{Amg movie|244107}}
* {{AllMovie title|244107}}
* {{mojo title|devilsbackbone}}
* {{mojo title|devilsbackbone}}


{{Guillermo del Toro}}
{{Guillermo del Toro}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Film|Spain|Mexico|2000s|Speculative fiction|Horror}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Devil's Backbone, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devil's Backbone, The}}
[[Category:2001 horror films]]
[[Category:2001 horror films]]
[[Category:2000s fantasy films]]
[[Category:2001 fantasy films]]
[[Category:2000s thriller films]]
[[Category:2001 thriller films]]
[[Category:Spanish supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Spanish supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Spanish thriller films]]
[[Category:Spanish thriller films]]
[[Category:Mexican supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Mexican supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Supernatural thriller films]]
[[Category:Supernatural thriller films]]
[[Category:Dark fantasy films]]
[[Category:Spanish dark fantasy films]]
[[Category:Gothic horror films]]
[[Category:Gothic horror films]]
[[Category:Spanish haunted house films]]
[[Category:Spanish haunted house films]]
Line 137: Line 245:
[[Category:Films produced by Agustín Almodóvar]]
[[Category:Films produced by Agustín Almodóvar]]
[[Category:El Deseo films]]
[[Category:El Deseo films]]
[[Category:2000s Spanish films]]
[[Category:2000s Mexican films]]
[[Category:Films about orphans in Spain]]

Latest revision as of 12:33, 9 June 2024

This article is about the 2001 film. For the 1970 film, see The Deserter (1970 film).

The Devil's Backbone
Spanish theatrical release poster
SpanishEl espinazo del diablo
Directed byGuillermo del Toro
Written by
Produced by
Starring
Narrated byFederico Luppi
CinematographyGuillermo Navarro
Edited byLuis De La Madrid
Music byJavier Navarrete
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Sogefilms (Spain)
Release date
  • 20 April 2001 (2001-04-20) (Spain)
Running time
108 minutes[1][2]
Countries
  • Spain
  • Mexico
LanguageSpanish
BudgetUS$4.5 million
Box officeUS$6.5 million

The Devil's Backbone (Spanish: El espinazo del diablo) is a 2001 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, and Íñigo Garcés. Released in Spain by Warner Sogefilms on 20 April 2001, the film received highly positive reviews from critics.

Plot

[edit]

Casares, a doctor, and his friend's wife Carmen operate a small orphanage in a remote part of Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Helping the couple are Jacinto, the groundskeeper (and former orphan), and his fiancée Conchita, a teacher. Casares and Carmen support the Republican loyalists, hiding a large cache of gold being used to back the Republican treasury. The orphanage has been subject to attacks from Francisco Franco's troops, and an inert bomb sits in the courtyard.

One day, an orphan named Carlos (unaware his father has been killed) arrives with Ayala and Domínguez, two loyalists. Casares and Carmen take Carlos in and he soon strikes up a friendship with Jaime, the orphanage bully, as well as Galvez and Owl (with Carlos left devastated when he suddenly finds himself left behind at the orphanage). Carlos soon begins having visions of a mysterious entity and hears stories about a child named Santi who went missing on the day the bomb was dropped in the courtyard. On his first night at the orphanage, Carlos is dared by Jaime to sneak to the kitchen for water after curfew and Carlos counters by daring Jaime to go with him. The boys reach the kitchen but Jaime hurries out after filling his pitcher, leaving Carlos alone. Carlos hears a whisper telling him that "many of you will die." Frightened, Carlos rushes outside and is caught by Jacinto. The next morning, Casares asks who snuck out after curfew but Carlos claims he went alone. This, as well as Carlos saving Jaime from falling in a cistern, earns him Jaime's friendship.

Jacinto knows of the gold hidden at the orphanage and uses his affair with Carmen as an opportunity to take her keys and search for the treasure. That night, the boys hear strange noises and Carlos decides to investigate. He sneaks out and encounters a pale figure of a young boy with a bleeding wound on his head, which causes him to run back into the building. Later, Carlos finds a drawing of a ghostly figure labeled "Santi", leading him to suspect that Jaime knows more than the other boys.

Casares sees that Ayala has been captured by the nationalists. Fearing Ayala will soon be tortured into revealing the gold’s location at the orphanage, he convinces Carmen that they must evacuate the children immediately. Jacinto overhears the conversation and confronts Carmen, demanding the stash of gold and crassly bringing up their affair in front of Casares. Enraged, Casares points a gun at Jacinto and forces him to leave.

As the orphans and faculty prepare to leave, Conchita discovers Jacinto pouring gasoline around the kitchen. She shoots him in the arm after he mocks her, causing a furious Jacinto to start a fire before fleeing the building. Carmen and fellow teacher Alma attempt to put out the fire but fail to prevent an explosion; Alma is killed by the blast along with several of the children (Owl is injured by shrapnel). Casares finds a mortally wounded Carmen inside the building and tearfully stays with her as she dies. He decides to remain in the charred orphanage with the surviving children, arming himself for Jacinto's return.

The following night, Jaime reveals to Carlos the details of Santi's disappearance: Jaime and Santi had been collecting slugs at the cistern when they spotted Jacinto attempting to open the safe where the gold was kept. Jaime managed to escape, but Jacinto cornered Santi and attempted to threaten him into keeping silent. In anger, Jacinto shoved Santi against a stone wall, giving him a severe head injury and sending him into shock. A panicked Jacinto then tied stones to Santi before sinking his body in the cistern. A terrified Jaime ran into the courtyard, only to have the bomb land several feet from him moments later.

Jaime insists that he is no longer scared of Jacinto and will kill him if he returns. Conchita attempts to walk to the nearest town for help when she encounters Jacinto and two associates driving back to the orphanage to claim the gold. Jacinto threatens her with a knife, telling her to apologize for shooting him, but she insults him and he stabs her to death.

Carlos has a final encounter with Santi's ghost, who he is no longer afraid of after hearing the circumstances of his death. The ghost quietly demands that Carlos bring Jacinto to him.

Casares dies of his injuries as Jacinto and his associates reach the orphanage and imprison the orphans while they search for the gold. The two other men eventually grow impatient and leave, but Jacinto finds and takes the stash. Jaime reveals Santi was murdered by Jacinto, encouraging the children to fight back and they fashion weapons from sharpened sticks and broken glass (as Galvez injures himself in a fall). The ghost of Casares then comes to free them from the locked door, leaving behind a monogrammed handkerchief. The children attack Jacinto in the cellar, finally pushing him into the cistern where he had dumped Santi's body. Weighed down by the gold he was carrying, Jacinto struggles to resurface but Santi's ghost appears from the depths and drags him to his death.

As Jamie impatiently forces Carlos to get going after finding him tearfully saying goodbye to Casares, the remaining children (including a limping Galvez and a carried Owl) leave the orphanage and head to town (looking back Carlos last to leave), Casares' ghost watches them from the doorway.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

It was independently produced by Agustín Almodóvar as an international co-production between Spain and Mexico, and was filmed in Madrid.[3]

Guillermo del Toro wrote the first draft before writing his debut film Cronos (1993). This "very different" version was set in the Mexican Revolution and focused not on a child's ghost but a "Christ with three arms".[4] According to del Toro, and as drawn in his notebooks, there were many iterations of the story, some of which included antagonists who were a "doddering ... old man with a needle," a "desiccated" ghost with black eyes as a caretaker (instead of the living Jacinto who terrorizes the orphans), and "beings who are red from head to foot."[5]

As mentioned in the "Spanish Gothic" interview on the DVD, the name of the movie was initially to be taken from the "Devil's Backbone" mountain range setting in Mexico; this was changed when the movie wound up being set in Spain.[6] One scene showed jars of a liqueur the doctor owned, each containing spiced rum called “Limbo water”, preserving a fetus that died from spina bifida. The doctor said the drink was rumored to cure impotence and was sold to fund the school. This became the origin of the name.[7][8][9]

As to motivation for the villain, according to the actor who portrayed him, Eduardo Noriega, Jacinto "suffered a lot when he was a child at this orphanage. Somebody probably treated him wickedly: this is his heritage. And then there is the brutalizing effect of the War." Noriega further notes that "What Guillermo did was to write a biography of Jacinto (which went into Jacinto's parents, what they did in life, and more) and gave it to me."[10]

DDT Studios in Barcelona created the final version of the crying ghost (victim and avenger) Santi, with his temple that resembled cracked, aged porcelain.[5]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 93% rating based on 121 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Creepily atmospheric and haunting, The Devil's Backbone is both a potent ghost story and an intelligent political allegory."[11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 based on 30 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[12]

Roger Ebert awarded the film 3 stars out of 4 and compared it favorably to The Others, another ghost story released later in the same year.[13] Christopher Varney, of Film Threat, claimed: "That 'The Devil's Backbone' makes any sense at all – with its many, swirling plotlines – seems like a little wonder."[citation needed] A. O. Scott, of The New York Times gave the film a positive review, and claimed that "The director, Guillermo del Toro, balances dread with tenderness, and refracts the terror and sadness of the time through the eyes of a young boy, who only half-understands what he is witnessing."[14]

Steve Biodrowski from Cinefantastique Online described the film as "rich in texture, characterization and themes. Besides being genuinely creepy, it is also surprisingly moving. It is, quite probably (and this is not a back-handed compliment) the saddest horror movie ever made." He also praised the performances as well as the special effects, which he declared as "some of the best ever seen, easily matching work from the best US facilities; in fact, in at least one way they are even better."[15][16]

The film was ranked at number 61 on Bravo's list 100 Scariest Movie Moments for its various scenes in which the ghost is seen.[17] Bloody Disgusting ranked the film at number 18 in their list Top 20 Horror Films of the Decade, with the article calling the film "elegant and deeply-felt... it’s alternately a gut-wrenching portrait of childhood in a time of war and a skin-crawling, evocative nightmare."[18]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
ALMA Awards Outstanding Foreign Film The Devil's Backbone Nominated [19]
Amsterdam International Film Festival Grand Prize of European Fantasy
Film in Silver 		Guillermo del Toro Won
Cinénygma - Luxembourg
International Film Festival 		Grand Prize of European Fantasy
Film in Gold 		Nominated
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Limited Release Film The Devil's Backbone Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Federico Luppi Nominated
Best Screenplay Guillermo del Toro,
Antonio Trashorras,
David Muñoz 		Nominated
Best Score Javier Navarrete Nominated
Fotogramas de Plata Best Movie Actor Eduardo Noriega Nominated
Gérardmer Film Festival Special Jury Prize Guillermo del Toro Won [20]
Youth Jury Grand Prize Won
International Critics Award Won
Goya Awards Best Costume Design José Vico Nominated
Best Special Effecs Reyes Abades,
Carmen Aguirre,
David Martí,
Alfonso Nieto,
Montse Ribé,
Emilio Ruiz del Río 		Nominated
International Horror Guild Awards Best Movie The Devil's Backbone Nominated [21]
MTV Movie Awards Mexico Best Mexican Working in a Foreign Movie Guillermo del Toro Won
Saturn Awards Best Horror Film The Devil's Backbone Nominated [22]
Young Artist Awards Best Young Actor in an International Film Fernando Tielve Won

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Devil's Backbone - El Espinazo del Diablo (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 13 September 2001. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  2. ^ "The Devil's Backbone (2001)". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  3. ^ Kermode, Mark (30 July 2013). "The Devil's Backbone: The Past Is Never Dead . . ". The Current. The Criterion Collection.
  4. ^ "Guillermo del Toro Q&A at Hero Complex Film Festival 2013". 12 May 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2013 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ a b del Toro, Guillermo (2013). Cabinet of Curiosities: My Notebooks, Collections, and Other Obsessions. Zicree, Marc Scott. (1st ed.). New York: Insight Editions / HarperCollins. pp. 102–103, 105. ISBN 978-0-06-208284-8. OCLC 857566627.
  6. ^ Galloway, Chris (11 August 2013). "The Devil's Backbone". CriterionForum.org. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  7. ^ Mariamidze, Magda (June 2019). "The Devil's Backbone: Unveiling the Secrets of the Ghost Story". 25yearslatersite.com. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  8. ^ Jones, Kimberley (15 March 2002). "The Devil's Backbone". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  9. ^ Weiskind, Ron (22 February 2002). "Devil's Backbone, The". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  10. ^ Olson, Danel; Baquero, Ivana; del Toro, Guillermo; Tielve, Fernando (2015). "Interview". Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth: Studies in the Horror Film (1st ed.). Lakewood, Colorado: Centipede Press. pp. 269–280. ISBN 978-1-61347-101-2. OCLC 923553438.
  11. ^ "The Devil's Backbone". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  12. ^ "The Devil's Backbone (2001)". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  13. ^ Ebert, Roger (21 December 2001). "The Devil's Backbone". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  14. ^ Scott, A.O. (21 November 2001). "Film Review; Dodging Bombs and Ghosts in Civil War Spain". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  15. ^ Biodrowski, Steve (30 December 2007). "Film Review: The Devil's Backbone". Cinefantastique Online. Archived from the original on 6 January 2008.
  16. ^ Biodrowski, Steve (2001). "The Devil's Backbone – Horror Film Review". Cinefantastique Online. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Greatest Scariest Movie Moments and Scenes: D-1". Filmsite. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  18. ^ "00's Retrospect: Bloody Disgusting's Top 20 Films of the Decade...Part 1". Bloody Disgusting. 15 December 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Nominees for 2002 ALMA Awards". upi.com. 17 April 2002. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  20. ^ "THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE". siskelfilmcenter.org. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  21. ^ "International Horror Guild Awards". sfadb.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Nominees for 28th Annual Saturn Awards". upi.com. 14 March 2002. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Devil%27s_Backbone&oldid=1228094364"