'The Orphanage' freaked me right out
'The Orphanage' freaked me out more than any other film I've seen in a long time.
When I was a boy, I remember sneaking downstairs and watching some late night movies on TV. I remember a couple of horror movies in particular that really scared me.
'The Orphanage' made me feel like that little kid again - almost too scared to sleep.
'The Orphanage' doesn't need flashy special effects, not even a lot of violence. It relies on a strong storyline, combining mystery, drama, suspense, and classic ghost story.
People looking for a typical horror might find this boring. 'Horror' has now come to be defined by slasher gore and over-reliance on CGI to provide a scare when the story or writing itself can't deliver. Here, the writing and directing deliver, but its a film you have to actually watch and become engaged in. If you just sit back waiting for the big shocking scene, then you're probably going to be disappointed.
If you're up for something pretty spooky, don't mind reading subtitles, and appreciate an actual plot - then I'd suggest you check this one out.