Episode 130: Guillermo Del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
Rotten Tomato Score: 93%
A ghost in a basement pool is scary, sure, but the real question we can’t stop asking is simpler: does The Devil’s Backbone even feel like a horror movie? We sit down with Guillermo del Toro’s 2001 Spanish Civil War haunted orphanage tale (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and argue our way through the tone, the pacing, and the genre label that follows Del Toro everywhere.
We talk first impressions, including why the slow burn works for some of us and drags for others, and how the film’s dread comes less from jump scares and more from cruelty, hunger, and power. Along the way we hit our favorite Screams and Streams categories: the Tropes Hall of Shame (yes, the whispering voice and the classic keyhole scare), the “don’t go back in the house” decisions that could’ve saved lives, and the moments that made us laugh in a movie that’s otherwise bleak.
Then we get into what really holds up: the ghost design with those cracked, leaking wounds, the strong performances from a cast full of kids, and a villain so hateable he almost redefines the threat. We also unpack the most unsettling details, including the infamous “fetus rum” and Jacinto’s escalation from greed to something far worse, before landing on our watchability scores and who we think should press play.
Sinister Sips
Orphan’s Blood
2 oz Silver Tequila
1 oz Cherry Liqueur
0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
0.5 oz Simple Syrup
3 Fresh Cherries (pitted)
Splash of Grenadine
Ice
Muddle the fresh cherries in the bottom of a cocktail shaker until they release their juices.
Add the tequila, cherry liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup to the shaker.
Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.
Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
Add a splash of grenadine, which will sink to the bottom and create a layered effect.
Garnish with a cherry on a cocktail pick for an elegant finish
Plot Summary:
After Carlos - a 12-year-old whose father has died in the Spanish Civil War - arrives at an ominous boys' orphanage, he discovers the school is haunted and has many dark secrets which he must uncover. (Taken from IMDb)
Watchability Scale
Sam and Mike gave the film a 6. Chad liked it a bit more and gave it a 7. We placed the film at 6.5 on the Watchability Scale.
Links
Movie Trivia (TV Tropes)