The Devil’s Backbone (2001) Revisited – Horror Movie Review

A new episode of our Best Foreign Horror Movies video series has just been released, and in this one we’re looking back at the 2001 film The Devil’s Backbone (get it HERE). An international co-production between Spain and Mexico that was filmed in Madrid, The Devil’s Backbone was directed by Guillermo del Toro from a screenplay he crafted with David Muñoz and Antonio Trashorras.

Set during the Spanish Civil War, The Devil’s Backbone has the following synopsis:

After losing his father, 10-year-old Carlos arrives at the Santa Lucia School, which shelters orphans of the Republican militia and politicians, and is taken in by the steely headmistress, Carmen, and the kindly professor, Casares. Soon after his arrival, Carlos has a run-in with the violent caretaker, Jacinto. Gradually, Carlos uncovers the secrets of the school, including the youthful ghost that wanders the grounds.

The film stars Fernando Tielve, Marisa Paredes, Federico Luppi, Eduardo Noriega, Íñigo Garcés, Junio Valverde, and Irene Visedo.

The Best Foreign Horror Movies series is

dedicated to highlighting horror films from outside North America that carry lots of punch, bite, scares and/or stabs! Hop on and enjoy the horror ride around the world.

The The Devil’s Backbone episode of the show was Written by Bryan Wolford, Narrated by Andrew Hatfield, Edited by Paul Bookstaber, Produced by John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

Are you a fan of The Devil’s Backbone? Let us know your thoughts on this movie by leaving a comment below.

The previous episodes of Best Foreign Horror Movies covered Dario Argento’s Deep Red, Lucio Fulci’s Zombie, Hideo Nakata’s Ringu, Dario Argento’s Sleepless, Tomas Alfredson’s Let the Right One In, Tommy Wirkola’s Dead Snow, Alexandre Aja’s High Tension, and Timur Bekmambetov’s Night Watch. A few of those episodes can be seen below. To see more, head over to the JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel – and subscribe to the channel while you’re there!