The Devil's Backbone (El espinazo del diablo)
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- Trailer 1 (02:09)
Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
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.
Cast
- Marisa Paredes
- Eduardo Noriega
- Federico Luppi
- Fernando Tielve
- Irene Visedo
- Iñigo Garcés
- José Manuel Lorenzo
- Francisco Maestre
Letterboxd User Reviews
3.8
136.7K
68.6K
38.2K
- Oct 26, 2020
Thought this was more captivating and unsettling than it was scary. I’m also not super squeamish but this has some moments that are...so vivid. Extremely well written, specifically the way things wrapped up. I know this is nitpicky but I’m super annoying when it comes to…
KarstenApr 4, 2021A tragic dark tale! A little slow at times but very well made. Directed by Guillermo del Toro. I was entertained and impressed by the movie though I probably wouldn’t watch it again because it is so depressing. It has nice gore effects. Extremely dark for a movie that most…
DyrnottMar 29, 2023As keepers of the land we so often become fixated on finding the ghosts who look like ghosts that we overlook the ghosts who look like us, yet while one haunts the grounds as an historical presence the other does as a potentiality. Trauma is a past force that lingers past…
reibureibu - Oct 2, 2025
GDT is very good at many things, but maybe doesn’t get enough credit for how he writes the children in his movies. They have agency, they are people and because there’s a genuine care for their characters, it makes whatever world they occupy that much more…
Joe AJan 11, 2021What is a Ghost? Am impeccably crafted political allegory ghost story... seeped in sun-soaked gothic atmos, humanism, and saccharine revenge. Last night I popped in Pan’s Labyrinth for the first time in ages and I couldn’t pass up a revisit of The Devil’s…
Ian WestJun 4, 2023Del Toro is unique. He takes the horrors of war, the depravity inherent in human beings, the fate of the innocent and turns them into fairy tales in which even the sunny days are ruled by darkness. The whole thing is carried by tragic music and melancholic, graceful…
kat🕷 - Oct 11, 2022
The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good ghost with a grudge.
Ben PetersonAug 29, 2022Not a horror in the classical sense of the word, even if it does involve a ghost. But a horror in the way that it tragically depicts the cataclysmic consequences of war, specially on the most innocent members of our society. Utterly devastating.
Joe AOct 7, 2016An elegant, alluring & sumptuous poetry from Guillermo del Toro, The Devil's Backbone is crafted with remarkable care, told with great composure, and brims with endless passion to finish as one of the most enchanting works of its genre. Gorgeously rendered, meticulously…
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Queue Community Reviews
89%
Community 857
Top Reviews
- Rory likedThe Devil's Backbone
Pues, creo que sí estaba una película un poco terror. No tenía de medio, los escenas estaban muy color con el sol y cielo azul. Los niños estaban mono y tenían mucho resiliencia. Yo estaba ir veer la pelicula en el cine se llama ‘Garden Cinema’ en centro de londres, pero en cambio
Nick Dubberly likedThe Devil's BackboneYou can tell the drastic difference between this and his first! The ghost effect used is the greatest I’ve ever seen before! You are sucked into these character’s lives and when the worst happens you feel real loss for them. So far, one of my absolute favorite del Toro films!
nevan lovedThe Devil's Backbonean underrated early work of one of our greatest modern filmmakers, guillermo del toro creates a film full of unrelenting violence and horrific themes, all while the brilliance and innocence of the young children at the center of the story shines through. horror fans will love
- Fabian_me00 likedThe Devil's Backbone
If someone expects a scary film this isn’t it but I love the symbolisms throughout the film, the effects I would say still can hold up to day depending on your standards but overall great acting and a great film by Guillermo del Toro.
Ailinn lovedThe Devil's Backboneguillermo del toro loves ghost stories and I love guillermo del toro's ghost stories
Justin lovedThe Devil's BackboneEasily one of Guillermo Del Toro’s best films.
- ATHE NARAYANAN likedThe Devil's Backbone
Loved the story and the vintage set up.
Ali is "meh" onThe Devil's Backbonenot as scary as I'd hoped
10000BCman likedThe Devil's Backboneincredible stuff
Atom Users Reviews
Metacritic
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 is breathtaking.
Colin Kennedy
Empire
Fine ensemble performances and a tight balance of the supernatural against the historical make The Devil's Backbone a well-crafted, white-knuckled cinematic journey.
Robert K. Elder
Chicago Tribune
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Devil's Backbone (El espinazo del diablo) (2001) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is The Devil's Backbone (El espinazo del diablo) (2001)?
The movie is 1hr 46min long.
What's The Devil's Backbone (El espinazo del diablo) (2001) about?
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.
Who's the cast of The Devil's Backbone (El espinazo del diablo) (2001)?
- Marisa Paredes as Carmen
- Eduardo Noriega as Jacinto
- Federico Luppi as Cásares
- Fernando Tielve as Carlos
- Irene Visedo as Conchita
- Iñigo Garcés as Jaime
- José Manuel Lorenzo as Marcelo
- Francisco Maestre as El Puerco
Who's the director behind The Devil's Backbone (El espinazo del diablo) (2001)?
Guillermo del Toro directed The Devil's Backbone (El espinazo del diablo) (2001).
Who produced The Devil's Backbone (El espinazo del diablo) (2001)?
Agustín Almodóvar, Bertha Navarro and Rosa Bosch produced The Devil's Backbone (El espinazo del diablo) (2001).
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