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Read the film reference Availability and pricing vary by region.The Devil's BackboneA movie brief.
2001 / Gothic Horror / Directed by Guillermo del Toro
A haunted orphanage holds secrets during a brutal civil war.
What is The Devil's Backbone about?
During the final year of the Spanish Civil War, a young boy named Carlos arrives at a remote orphanage. He soon discovers the institution is not only run by Republican loyalists but also haunted by a mysterious ghost.
Five things to know.
A New Home
Young Carlos is left at a remote Spanish orphanage, a haven for Republican loyalists during the intense final year of the Civil War.
Wartime Setting
The orphanage itself is a precarious place, housing a hidden gold cache and an inert bomb in its courtyard from past attacks.
Spirits and Secrets
Carlos quickly encounters the pale figure of a young boy's ghost, while a dangerous groundskeeper adds to the palpable tension.
Del Toro's Vision
Director Guillermo del Toro crafts a richly atmospheric and genuinely creepy ghost story, praised for its texture and characterization.
A Moving Allegory
This film offers a moving and deeply felt experience, blending supernatural horror with an intelligent political allegory seamlessly.
A thought to take with you.
Carlos arrives at an orphanage where the adults' unfinished histories and the war outside shape the children's daily life. The ghost is part of that atmosphere, but the film also treats the living institution as a place where secrets and violence persist.
Is it your kind of movie?
Choose it for a Spanish-language period horror drama set during the Civil War. It combines a ghost story with wartime trauma and disturbing imagery.
Sources & scope
This AI-assisted brief is based on the linked secondary reference. Facts and interpretation are separated; it does not claim personal viewing or independent expert review.
Source details checked October 5, 2026. Suggest a correction · Our editorial approach