#24 - Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
(dir. Guillermo del Toro)
Set in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, this film follows a young girl named Ofelia as she deals with the brutality of the real world by escaping into her own creepy fantasy world. She meets a faun who tells her that she is actually the Princess of the Underworld, and that she needs to complete three tasks before she can be allowed to return home. Meanwhile, her mother is dying of complications from pregnancy, and her step-father is a cruel army captain who is hunting down the last resistance fighters from the war.
I'd call this "dark fantasy" more than horror, but it has some of the best and creepiest creature design in recent history, maybe ever. The real world is more disturbing than fantasy though, and there are some moments of brutal violence here. Mostly her fantasies are fairy tales that deal with mortality, and how a child faced with death on all sides learns to cope with it. It's some pretty heavy material, but del Toro brings a sense of wonder to it that, just like Ofelia's fantasies, helps us through it.
I'd say this is a close second to The Devil's Backbone as del Toro's best film, but it does surpass it in terms of the amazing visuals and design. A modern classic, very highly recommended.
Comments
Post a Comment