The Orphanage

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1:58

The Orphanage

R

Released Jan 11, 2008

1h 45m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

179 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Laura (Belén Rueda) has happy memories of her childhood in an orphanage. She convinces her husband to buy the place and help her convert it into a home for sick children. One day, her own adopted son, Simón (Roger Príncep), disappears. Simon is critically ill, and when he is still missing several months later, he is presumed dead. Grief-stricken Laura believes she hears spirits, who may or may not be trying to help her find the boy.

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Critics Consensus

Deeply unnerving and surprisingly poignant, The Orphanage is an atmospheric, beautifully crafted haunted house horror film that earns scares with a minimum of blood.

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Tasha Robinson

Polygon

A skillfully made heartbreaker.

Oct 20, 2021

Full Review

Katey Rich

CinemaBlend

Though The Orphanage sticks fairly closely to a genre fomat, and the plot twists become a little predictable, the film packs surprises all the way to the end.

Oct 14, 2014

Full Review

Eric Kohn

New York Press

Let the anticipation of Bayona's next move begin.

Oct 14, 2014

Full Review

Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

With a very well-constructed script and remarkable performances, The Orphanage impacts and maintains tension throughout making it clear that the ghosts in Spain come from within... [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 8/10

Jul 1, 2024

Full Review

Elisa Guimarães

Collider

The Orphanage wouldn't work without its sense of childlike wonder.

Jan 29, 2024

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Bayona approaches his story with patience and dread, reminding us why suspense relies on what we don’t see, the possibility, as opposed to immediately pulling the curtain back on blood and gore.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 21, 2024

Full Review

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Kyle M

Certainly one of the well-told, spookiest ghost stories that’s quite haunting and refining to enthrall without ever being frightening albeit the atmospheric chills keeping up the wonder, unexpectedly seeping naturally aligning parallels as another grown up fairy tale with an unprecedented flow. (B+)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/16/24

Full Review

Julian S

“The Orphanage” is a masterfully crafted haunted house story that sends chills down your spine and leaves your heart in tatters.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/24

Full Review

Emilliano Jr S

Clever, superb story telling.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/28/24

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Kevin L

"The Orphanage' uses the Hitchcock approach to setting and building the tension and uneasy essence you want in a suspene movie; esp. with an element of mystery. If people are seated at a table and a bomb explodes, that is surprise. If they are seated at a table, and you know there's a bomb under the table attached to a ticking clock, but they continue to play cards -- that's suspense. And if there are signs of unsettled spirits about your home and in your head, yet you continue to look for answers in concrete reality when you sense that's not where the answers are, that can be suspense, too. Great performance from Belén Rueda in the lead role of Laura. She conveys the deep, devoted love of a mother, as well as the terror, agony, and frustrations of the story line. Princep is good as well as her adopted son Simon, who has to deal with weighty revelations. Skillful work by director Bayona, writer Sánchez, and editor Ruiz. The movie kept me locked in to the story with real empathy for the characters. Landed the ending for me as well. 3.8 stars

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/30/24

Full Review

melissa c

Una vez más, Guillermo del Toro demostrando que es el mejor director de cine, excelente película y un plot twist que deja invita a reflexionar cuánto seríamos capaces de perder por alguien que amamos

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/27/24

Full Review

Anastasia Z

One of the best horror movies!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

Full Review

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J. A. Bayona

Director

Belén Rueda

Laura

Fernando Cayo

Carlos

Geraldine Chaplin

Aurora

Montserrat Carulla

Benigna

Mabel Rivera

Pilar

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The Orphanage: Trailer 1

1:58

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Synopsis

Laura (Belén Rueda) has happy memories of her childhood in an orphanage. She convinces her husband to buy the place and help her convert it into a home for sick children. One day, her own adopted son, Simón (Roger Príncep), disappears. Simon is critically ill, and when he is still missing several months later, he is presumed dead. Grief-stricken Laura believes she hears spirits, who may or may not be trying to help her find the boy.

Director: J. A. Bayona
Producer: Mar Targarona, Joaquín Padro, Álvaro Augustin
Screenwriter: Sergio G. Sánchez
Distributor: Picturehouse
Production Co: Telecinco Cinema, Rodar y Rodar Cine y Television
Rating: R (Some Disturbing Content)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror, Drama
Original Language: European Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 11, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.2M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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