Welcome to one of the main features of 'Castle Dracula,' the movie reviews section.
The reviews placed here are from all around the world, from the USA to the UK Japan
and everything inbetween. The formats reviewed are video and DVD. I have included the
origin of the film reviewed so you can check your player for compatibility. You may
also notice that there are some DVD-R reviews. These are not 'bootlegs' or 'copies'
but official screeners that I have been sent containing an as yet unreleased film to 
review. All the reviews here have been reviewed either by myself or my current movie 
reviewers. If you're an avid watcher of horror movies then why not join 'Castle Dracula'
as an official 'staff member' reviewing them. To do so, just click on the 'Join My Staff'
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New reviews are normally placed here once a week, check my front page for under 'Castle
Dracula Updates' to see what latest movie reviews have been placed.

- The Devil's Backbone - UK Video - 

Directed by Guillermo Del Toro (Blade 2, Mimic and Cronos), 'The Devils Backbone'
is set in Spain during the Spanish Civil War in the early twentieth century. 
It is a stylish, chilling story of a young Boys Orphanage in the middle of nowhere
where strange events are taking place.
A ghost who they call 'the one who sighs' is tormenting the children. 
When a new boy comes along he is bullied by an older boy who makes him go to
places in the middle of the night. This is when he first sees the ghost. 
Behind the ghost story is another story of the Spaniards who are taking sides in
the war and are hiding gold in the orphanage. 
Linking the two stories together the boys find out who the murderer is and set 
about bringing the person to justice with the help of their new friend which just
happens to be the ghost itself.
The story is slow to start but half way through takes off at a fast pace, which 
has you sitting on the edge of your chair. 
Because of the sincerity of the young cast you immediately believe their plight 
and feel sorry for them and the spirit that is terrorizing them. 
Although the film is scary in places these parts are not often enough but they are
in the right places to make you jump. 
The only criticism I have with the film is that it is in Spanish with English 
subtitles. Because there is so much happening on screen I found myself either 
missing parts of the subtitles or missing some of the scenes. 
Dark scenes mixed with vividly bright yellow day scenes of the desert make this 
film very vivid and real. 
Directed by one of the worlds best horror directors who doesn't make enough English
films certainly has made a great film with 'The Devils Backbone', even if you do 
have to be patient with the language barrier.

Reviewed By Zilliah

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