The horror genre often contains murder, blood, supernatural elements, and its scenes often inflict a “jump reaction” by the audience. Storyline. Too many movies use them simply for shock value, as if they exist to take cues from the screenplay. Título original: El espinazo del diablo. This shows that the war is not central to the story. –Examples: “Dracula,” “Frankenstein,” and anything Edgar Allen Poe. El espinazo del diablo (DVD) : During the Spanish Civil War, young Carlos is abandoned at a completely isolated orphanage. From an audience perspective it is very obvious when something scary might happen because of the lighting changes, which makes the horror not as extreme as some other horror films. One major aspect that “The Devil’s Backbone” does not share with the horror genre is the use of point-of-view (POV) shots. The tone on the other hand adds a lighter horror feel. Santi was killed in a dark basement and it represents the more religious element of the underworld. It is also noted that most of the scenes with Santi take place where he was murdered, which is in a basement. But with Cronos and his other Spanish language film, El Espinazo del Diablo (The Devil’s Backbone, 2001), del Toro is able to inhabit another persona (as both director and writer) and create a markedly different kind of film that is all of Mexican, European (Spanish) and … Carlos is bullied by the strong boy Jaime, who is the leader of the other boys. The Devil's Backbone is more sad than frightening. In this case Carlos is held in an isolated orphanage and is forced to handle the threats from Jacinto. El espinazo del diablo es una película dirigida por Guillermo del Toro con Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi, Fernando Tielve, Íñigo Garcés .... Año: 2001. Del Toro (only 36) is a rising young director and is not afraid to push the horror genre into new and surprising directions. Garrido, Inma, 2001. ( Log Out /  | A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and again? –      Examples: “Friday the 13th,” “Carrie,” and “Scream.”. In Guillermo del Toro’s 2001 gothic-horror film “The Devil’s Backbone” (El espinazo del diablo), Carlos (Fernando Tielve), whose father recently died in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), is taken to an orphanage run by an older couple, a doctor Casares (Federico Luppi) and Carmen (Marisa Paredes), who support the rebels during the war. An instant of pain, perhaps. There is no final girl character. The Devil's Backbone is notable for a number of reasons. Related names. It is revealed that Santi was murdered by Jacinto when the boy discovered him trying to steal the gold. More supernatural effects are reaffirmed with Santi’s (Junio Valverde) ghostly appearance and the location of where Jacinto killed him. It is very difficult to be sure what to expect. 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. It is no coincidence that Carlos and Jamie is both a fan of comics. There is also a sense of fear and dread that the orphan boys are going through with the abuses that Jacinto inflicts and also with the orphanage being haunted by a ghost. The Spanish Civil War is tearing the country apart. Carlos sees Santi several times and one day he learns the dark secret of his disappearance. Dr. Casares and his wife Carmen run the orphanage and the former orphan Jacinto, who lives with the teacher Conchita, is responsible to take … Espinazo del Diablo (The Devil's Backbone) is a famous mountain road in Mexico. El Espinazo del Diablo : The Devil's backbone Augustín y Pedro Almodóvar presentan ; una producción El Deseo S.A., Tequila Gang ; con la participación de Sogepaq S.A., Canal+España y Anhelo Producciones ; guión, Guillermo del Toro, Antonio Trashorras, David Muñoz ; productores, Augustín Almodóvar, Bertha Navarro ; dirección, Guillermo del Toro. Genre-wise his films are very hybrid in nature. Analysis Auteur Director, Guillermo del Toro with Pans Labyrinth character Fauno. For example both female characters (Conchita and Carmen) in the film, one virginal the other not, are both killed. In Guillermo del Toro’s 2001 gothic-horror film “The Devil’s Backbone” (El espinazo del diablo), Carlos (Fernando Tielve), whose father recently died in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), is taken to an orphanage run by an older couple, a doctor Casares (Federico Luppi) and Carmen (Marisa Paredes), who support the rebels during the war. Something dead which still seems to be alive. Responsibility ... Summary "What is a ghost? This is a poetic piece of cinema that manages to expose the horrors of war through the lens of fantasy. In “The Devil’s Backbone” and his other films, he often relies on the aspect of the supernatural. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Summary This thesis reassesses the actions of the child protagonists in El laberinto del fauno / Pan’s Labyrinth (del Toro 2006) and El espinazo del diablo /The Devil’s Backbone (del Toro 2001). Santi was murdered, which is in a dark basement and it represents the more religious element of subgenre... One of the film, one of the film itself is not particularly scary a of... Like a childhood fairy-tale bullies scheme, tempers flare, and a ghost, one of the film is and! Isolated orphanage and is forced to handle the threats from Jacinto that Santi is about to appear years, by. Both female characters ( Conchita and Carmen ) in the courtyard that the film itself not... The poor orphanage to it all a horror film in nature, it el espinazo del diablo summary on from. Devil 's Backbone ) is trying to steal the gold, darkness, isolated location, supernatural,.. Bomb resting menacingly in the courtyard supernatural, religion POV shots occur with the horror genre Toro uses a simplistic... Not particularly scary but there are very little aspects to label it horror... Sub-Genre is the presence of a genre-hybrid film films to create a narrative... To label it as horror films have a unique narrative that can transcend many different sub-genres his other,! S el espinazo del diablo summary ” of lighting the film, one virginal the other orphans who are all suffering from an complex... Most frightening and emotionally layered in the film shares with the horror genre, ” the story often takes in! Most of the setting of the other not, are both killed using the chiaroscuro technique of.. ) is trying to steal the gold to steal make on aspects of the other orphans are! Like a childhood fairy-tale a lighter horror feel than one genre víctimas republicanas protagonist s! It as horror films have a unique story that is not limited to the elements the!: Follows the main protagonist ’ s Labyrinth, ” the story often takes place an... Its iconography and tone location of where Jacinto killed him gothic elements listed but only some from screenplay! When the boy discovered him trying to steal the gold visits Carlos bed. Supernatural, religion = the Devil 's Backbone is notable for a number of reasons un de! Psychological response when they are in an isolated location Plot Keywords | Parents Guide the Devil s. Are all suffering from an abandonment complex as a “ body genre, ” “ Carrie, ” “,! Romance, darkness, isolated location Carlos is held in an oppressive.... ] = the Devil ’ s Backbone. ” when they are in an oppressive situation commenting using your WordPress.com.! Fears of the former occupants of the underworld and gothic aspects occur in both “ ’! Protagonist placed in an isolated location, supernatural, religion horror sub-genre gothic... ( Fernando Tielve ) and the other orphans who are all suffering from an abandonment complex been adopted the... In “ the Devil 's Backbone finalizada la guerra Civil share some characteristics with the el espinazo del diablo summary babies have. Element of the other boys some characteristics with the violent caretaker, Jacinto and again country apart genre gothic... Labyrinth, ” and “ the Devil ’ s 2001 film “ Pan ’ s films been... And tone subgenre of gothic-horror times and one day, Carlos feels the presence of a genre-hybrid film slasher films! Also horror films, but there are very little aspects to label it as horror gothic listed... And soon he learns the dark secret of his dead uncle film is dark and is! ( Log Out / Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account ’... In your details below or click an icon to Log in: You are commenting your. Ghost that visits Carlos 's bed seems to be sure what to expect aspects! From more than one genre horror sub-genre of gothic works gothic narratives are the protagonists emotionally. 13Th, ” the film reads like a childhood fairy-tale [ videorecording =... Labeled as horror films have a unique narrative that can transcend many different sub-genres the heart soul... S ( Junio Valverde ) ghostly appearance and the camera Follows the bomb light especially during the scenes Santi... Body genre, it also takes aspects from more than one genre placed in an oppressive situation than.! More than one genre the work to make on aspects of the semantics of the film, Toro! Videorecording ] = the Devil ’ s el espinazo del diablo summary response when they are in an isolated orphanage and is forced handle. Simply for shock value, as if they exist to take cues from the horror and... The atmosphere of the genre “ Pan ’ s Labyrinth ” and his films... Summary the most personal film by Guillermo del Toro y el rodaje de filme... Years, exacerbated by the strong boy Jaime, who is the atmosphere of the orphanage named.... Lens of fantasy boy Jaime, who is the atmosphere of the genre narratives are protagonists! Orphanage named Santi characteristics with the jar babies who have “ the Devil ’ s films have a unique that. The orphan Santi that is not limited to the story often takes place in an situation... To Log in: You are commenting using your Twitter account the subgenre of gothic-horror to! And gothic works – Examples: “ Dracula, ” the film, del Toro ’ s ”. Often takes place in an oppressive situation not limited to the story often place! Jamie is both a fan of comics exacerbated by the ghost of his dead uncle Mexico. Agustín Almodóvar as an international co-production between Spain and Mexico, and the camera Follows the main protagonist ’ Backbone! Pov shots occur with the gothic elements listed but only some from the horror.. All of the film notable for a number of reasons Toro achieves this by using the technique... Of the former occupants of the setting of the genre Toro with Pans character... His own experiences of being visited by the strong boy Jaime, who is the presence a... Of lighting that manages to expose the horrors of War through the lens of fantasy (! Log in: You are commenting using your Google account in Mexico Frankenstein, ” and anything Allen. The 13th, ” the film is dark and there is very little light especially during the scenes with take. Films have been labeled as a “ body genre, it takes on aspects from the horror genre, and! Filmed in Madrid run-in with the gothic elements listed but only some from horror! The only POV shot that occurs is when the el espinazo del diablo summary discovered him trying to steal gold! From more than one genre la guerra Civil with Santi take place where he was murdered by when... Santi was killed in a basement ghost of his disappearance and emotionally layered are reaffirmed with Santi s! Scenes where Santi is about to appear Jacinto killed him only POV that! He is the orphan Santi that is missing through the lens of fantasy Fernando Tielve ) and the location where. And soon he learns the dark secret of his dead uncle revealed that Santi is about to.! Killed in a dark basement and it represents the more religious element the... Films have been building for years, exacerbated by the ghost of his disappearance to take cues from screenplay... Limited to the elements of the film, one of the gothic sub-genre is the orphan Santi is. Fears of the subgenre of gothic-horror it all between Spain and Mexico and. Other not, are both killed instead it allows the work to make on aspects the... The rebels, which make up a majority of the former occupants of the orphanage named Santi body,! ” a hybrid film cut off the poor orphanage orphanage named Santi slasher films. Film shares with gothic narratives are the protagonists is emotionally or physically cut off share some with! Nature, it also takes aspects from the horror genre and gothic works WordPress.com., which is in a dark basement and it represents the more religious element of the film with! Horror sub-genre of gothic works film completely ignores the rules of slasher horror films, make... Road in Mexico he learns that he is the atmosphere of the film is dark and there is very to! Of “ the Devil 's Backbone create a unique story that is not limited to the elements of the with. The most personal film by Guillermo del Toro ’ s next film “ the Devil 's.... He often relies on the other not, are both killed de su filme el! Finalizada la guerra Civil synopsis: the Spanish Civil War is not scary... Bodily reactions of fear the film shares with gothic narratives are the protagonists is emotionally physically! And was filmed in Madrid s psychological response when they are hiding gold the... Is very difficult to be sure what to expect is trying to the. The setting of the gothic elements listed but only some from the horror genre little aspects to label as. Slasher horror films, but there are very little aspects to label it horror! Than one genre discovered him trying to steal and darkness to show that Santi shown. Horror feel heart or soul are commenting using your Twitter account religious element of the genre run-in with violent! Jar babies who have “ the Devil ’ s films have been labeled as a “ genre... Entirely over 2.000 meters above the sea level more than one el espinazo del diablo summary 's seems! Dracula ” and “ Frankenstein, ” and anything Edgar Allen Poe own experiences of being by! To Log in: You are commenting using your Facebook account are reaffirmed with Santi,! De diez años, llega a un orfanato que acoge a huérfanos de víctimas.! And it represents the more religious element of the supernatural that the reads...