Ground Report

Juan Antonio Bayona’s feature debut is a haunting fantasy (the horror label hardly applies) presented by the reigning rey (español for "king," gringos) of haunting fantasies, Guillermo Del Toro. It’s punctuated by strong performances by all, and a story sprinkled with a little Never-Neverland dust that lends it some magic, and some very real human concerns (HIV, um, oprhaned children) that lend it some depth. A moody thriller with a great twist, this one should have you thinking about it long after you leave the theater – just don’t think about the inevitable American redux starring Sarah Michelle Alba…