El Orfanato (2007)

A woman named Laura moves her Husband and Son (Simon) into the orphanage for special needs kids that she grew up in, hoping to reopen it. Simon has imaginary friends, and when they move into the orphanage he gains five more, his inner world seems to be growing and darkening at once. A strange old woman who is a case worker arrives to address Simon’s illness (HIV+) Laura asks her to leave, that night she is found in the garage/shed with a shovel and flees.

At the opening party for the new children Laura is attacked by a child wearing a sack for mask and Simon disappears. Months go by without a trace, the orphanage is having lots of things that go bump in the night and Laura seems to be loosing it a bit as hope of finding Simon fades. The mystery of where Simon has disappeared to, who the ghosts in the house are, who the old lady was and what she wanted are unraveled with a pacing that is astounding for a first time director (Juan Bayona, buddy of Guillemo del Toro who produced).

This movie has some genuine fucking scares in it, it is old school ghost story telling at its best. All of the elements (creepy orphanage, ghost kids, kid with slipknot-esque mask on) would be really groan worthy in another directors hands. This really works on an atmospheric level, it looks great, the sound editing is good as well.

My only complaint, the last maybe ten minutes. Not satisfying (to me, I bet lots of people will be fine with it), but the rest is great.