The Devil's Backbone 4K 2001 Ultra HD 2160p

The late 1930s. Civil war is raging in Spain. After his father’s death, 12-year-old Carlos is sent to the Santa Lucía orphanage, where he is placed under the care of the headmistress, Carmen, and Professor Casares. The boy’s father was a rebel who was killed in battle against Franco’s regime. And although the orphanage is overflowing with homeless children, the school director takes Carlos in with compassion. Carlos uncovers the school’s terrifying secrets and one day comes face to face with “the one who sighs.” A mysterious ghost roams the orphanage, trying to warn the living of something…

User Review

Guillermo del Toro’s "The Devil’s Backbone" tells the story of 12-year-old Carlos, who, following his father’s death, is sent to Santa Lucía School under the care of Headmistress Carmela and Professor Casares. The boy’s father was a rebel killed in battle against Franco’s regime. And although the orphanage is overcrowded with children, the school director compassionately takes in young Carlos.

Having received a well-deserved Oscar for his work, Guillermo del Toro has now become one of the most respected directors, enjoying relatively greater creative freedom than others. However, this was far from always the case, and in one of his early interviews, del Toro once admitted that he would make popcorn movies for American audiences, but it was within the framework of Spanish-language cinema that he would make the films that truly resonated with his soul. Another clear example of this is “The Devil’s Backbone.”

One of del Toro’s greatest strengths is that even when creating a horror film, he manages to craft a true work of art with picturesque direction and far deeper moral themes and drama. That is why, even though at first glance this film may seem like just another story about a “haunted house,” it actually turns out to be a much deeper and different work. In fact, it tells the story of children forced to flee the horrors of life into the world of their imagination. In this case, an escape from the horrors of war into a world of fantasy that turns into a nightmare for each of them.

The film’s director, Guillermo del Toro, has created a very powerful work that feels like something much greater than just another horror movie. As such, there are few jump scares or truly terrifying moments in this film. In contrast, there is far more violence and repulsive moments. But in reality, it is the masterfully crafted atmosphere that makes a much stronger impression, one that is both mesmerizing and repulsive at the same time.

The excellent cast ensures such a powerful viewing experience. It’s a rare case where every actor looks perfect in their role on screen and doesn’t try to hog the spotlight. This is especially true of the children, who don’t try to “act like adults” and come across as completely authentic to their age.

Info Video

Codec: HEVC / H.265 (83.4 Mb/s)
Resolution: Upscaled 4K (2160p)
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Info Audio

#Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
#French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Info Subtitles