Film · 2001
The devil's backbone
Original titleEl espinazo del diablo
Directed by Guillermo del Toro · starring Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega and Federico Luppi
- 7.1 AverageMovieNCo
- 6.3 Users3 votes
- 8.0 Critics4 reviews
Synopsis
During the Spanish Civil War, the twelve year-old boy Carlos is left behind by his family in an orphanage in the middle of nowhere. Dr. Casares and his wife Carmen run the orphanage and the former orphan Jacinto, who lives with the teacher Conchita, is responsible to take care and for the maintenance of the place. Jacinto is an ambitious and violent man and has a love affair with Carmen trying to steal the key of the safe where Dr. Casares and his wife hide the gold that is used to support the Republican forces. Carlos is bullied by the strong boy Jaime, who is the leader of the other boys. One day, Carlos feels the presence of a ghost and soon he learns that he is the orphan Santi that is missing. Carlos sees Santi several times and one day he learns the dark secret of his disappearance.
Where to watch The devil's backbone
All the optionsAvailable now in the UK:
The essentials
- Runtime
- 106 min1 hour and 46 minutes
- Budget
- $4.5mEl Deseo
- Rating
- 15Suitable only for 15 years and over
- How long is The devil's backbone?
- 1 hour and 46 minutes (106 minutes).
- When was The devil's backbone released in the UK?
- It was released in the UK on 29 November 2001.
- Who directed The devil's backbone?
- Guillermo del Toro.
- Who is in The devil's backbone?
- It stars Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi and Fernando Tielve.
- Where can I watch The devil's backbone?
- In the UK it is available with a channel on Apple TV and a channel on Prime Video.
Cast
Full cast (20)-
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- Director
- Guillermo del Toro
- Writers
- Guillermo del Toro, Antonio Trashorras, David Muñoz
- Producers
- Agustín Almodóvar, Pedro Almodóvar, Guillermo del Toro
Videos and trailers
See the video
Photos and posters
All 7 photos
Reviews
All 4 reviewsWhat the critics say average 8.0 from 4 outlets
- 9.1 Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Del Toro builds excitement, dread, and melodrama in equal layers.
- 8.0 EmpireColin Kennedy
Building slowly from a stately start, Del Toro manages to unite all his disparate elements - ghosts and gold, infidelity and politics - for a devastating final reel. The command of sound and colour…
- 8.0 The Washington PostJ. Hoberman
The movie is an expert, sunlit chiller audaciously predicated on an unquiet historical memory: "What is a ghost?".
Awards
All the awards- Goya Awards 2002 2 nominations
Soundtrack
All 5 songsTrivia
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Brother
Described by Guillermo del Toro as being a sibling film to 'Pan's Labyrinth' (2006)
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Memories
Was strongly inspired by the director's personal memories, especially his relationship with his uncle, who supposedly came back as a ghost.
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Favorite movie
Guillermo del Toro has said that this is his favorite movie of his own (2003).
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Title
The film's title refers to the medical condition of spina bifida.
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