THE ORPHANAGE (2007) Blu-ray Review

Scare-A-Thon Totals to Date:

Total Movies Watched: 13
Total First Time Views: 4
Amount raised for AMAZON WATCH: $989.95

The Orphanage (2007) d. J.A. Bayona (Spain) (101 min) (3rd viewing)

“Uno… Dos… Tres… Toca La Pared.”

Laura (Belén Rueda) and her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) return to the seaside property where she spent part of her youth, hoping to restore and resurrect Good Shepherd Orphanage as a home for special-needs children. Her young (adopted and HIV-positive) son Simón (Roger Princep) has an active inner life, trading stories of his imaginary friends Watson and Pepe with her bedtime readings of Peter Pan. One day, visiting the cave under a long-dormant lighthouse, Simón reports having encountered a new friend, Tomás, who wears a sack over his head. During a fundraising event a few days later, Simón disappears without a trace, although Laura is positive she saw him at the mouth of the cave, just as the tide was rolling in….

OCTOBER MOVIE CHALLENGE (10/25 - 10/26)

Challenge Totals to Date:

Movies Watched Today: 2
Total Movies Watched: 66
Total First Time Views: 17
Amount raised: $607.20 

 
Today's showcased SCARE-A-THON Charity:
 
ST. MARTIN DE PORRES’ HOUSE OF HOPE, sponsored by Sheila Ralston

To showcase your charity, send an email to drach101@gmail.com with your pledge amount and the charity's website!

THE AWAKENING (2011) review

Awakening, The (2011) (1st viewing) d. Murphy, Nick (UK)
A handsomely mounted period British ghost story (though, when are they not?) starring Rebecca Hall as a specter-debunking expert called to a beleaguered boys school where the terrified tots report seeing an ambulating apparition. Smartly scripted and well-acted, but my failure to be wowed stems from its covering such similar ground as The Orphanage, Haunted, Turn of the Screw, The Others, The Woman in Black, etc. yet never really distinguishing itself among them. No spoilers here, but it seems like the films listed above managed to bring something truly unique to the table – I’ll be very surprised if people are talking about this five years from now (much like this year's Woman in Black).