Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Devil's Backbone

Original title: El espinazo del diablo
  • 2001
  • R
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
69K
YOUR RATING
The Devil's Backbone (2001)
Theatrical Trailer from Columbia Pictures
Play trailer2:10
10 Videos
84 Photos
DramaHorrorThriller

After Carlos - a 12-year-old whose father has died in the Spanish Civil War - arrives at an ominous boys' orphanage, he discovers the school is haunted and has many dark secrets which he mus... Read allAfter Carlos - a 12-year-old whose father has died in the Spanish Civil War - arrives at an ominous boys' orphanage, he discovers the school is haunted and has many dark secrets which he must uncover.After Carlos - a 12-year-old whose father has died in the Spanish Civil War - arrives at an ominous boys' orphanage, he discovers the school is haunted and has many dark secrets which he must uncover.

  • Director
    • Guillermo del Toro
  • Writers
    • Guillermo del Toro
    • Antonio Trashorras
    • David Muñoz
  • Stars
    • Marisa Paredes
    • Eduardo Noriega
    • Federico Luppi
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    69K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Guillermo del Toro
    • Writers
      • Guillermo del Toro
      • Antonio Trashorras
      • David Muñoz
    • Stars
      • Marisa Paredes
      • Eduardo Noriega
      • Federico Luppi
    • 250User reviews
    • 164Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 11 nominations

    Videos10

    The Devil's Backbone
    Trailer 2:10
    Watch The Devil's Backbone
    How 'Pan's Labyrinth' Inspired 'Scary Stories'
    Clip 2:49
    Watch How 'Pan's Labyrinth' Inspired 'Scary Stories'
    The Devil's Backbone: Breakfast
    Clip 2:43
    Watch The Devil's Backbone: Breakfast
    The Devil's Backbone: The Wrong Key
    Clip 1:46
    Watch The Devil's Backbone: The Wrong Key
    The Devil's Backbone: Santi's Bed
    Clip 1:35
    Watch The Devil's Backbone: Santi's Bed
    The DEVIL'S BACKBONE: another boy (US)
    Clip 1:07
    Watch The DEVIL'S BACKBONE: another boy (US)
    The Devil's Backbone: Do You Believe In Ghosts?
    Clip 1:57
    Watch The Devil's Backbone: Do You Believe In Ghosts?
    The Devil's Backbone: Carlos Sees The Ghost For The 1st Time
    Clip 1:45
    Watch The Devil's Backbone: Carlos Sees The Ghost For The 1st Time
    The Devil's Backbone: The One Who Sighs
    Clip 1:15
    Watch The Devil's Backbone: The One Who Sighs
    The Devil's Backbone: The Bomb
    Clip 1:49
    Watch The Devil's Backbone: The Bomb

    Photos84

    Junio Valverde in The Devil's Backbone (2001)
    Junio Valverde in The Devil's Backbone (2001)
    The Devil's Backbone (2001)
    The Devil's Backbone (2001)
    The Devil's Backbone (2001)
    The Devil's Backbone (2001)
    The Devil's Backbone (2001)
    The Devil's Backbone (2001)
    The Devil's Backbone (2001)
    The Devil's Backbone (2001)
    The Devil's Backbone (2001)
    The Devil's Backbone (2001)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Marisa Paredes
    Marisa Paredes
    • Carmen
    Eduardo Noriega
    Eduardo Noriega
    • Jacinto
    Federico Luppi
    Federico Luppi
    • Dr. Casares
    Fernando Tielve
    Fernando Tielve
    • Carlos
    Íñigo Garcés
    Íñigo Garcés
    • Jaime
    Irene Visedo
    Irene Visedo
    • Conchita
    José Manuel Lorenzo
    José Manuel Lorenzo
    • Marcelo
    Francisco Maestre
    Francisco Maestre
    • El Puerco
    • (as Paco Maestre)
    Junio Valverde
    Junio Valverde
    • Santi
    Berta Ojea
    • Alma
    Adrián Lamana
    • Gálvez
    Daniel Esparza
    • Marcos
    Miguel Ortiz
    Juan Carlos Vellido
    Juan Carlos Vellido
    Javier Bódalo
    • Búho
    • (as Javier González Madrigal)
    Víctor Elías
    José Luis Torrijo
    José Luis Torrijo
    Álvaro Vega
    • Director
      • Guillermo del Toro
    • Writers
      • Guillermo del Toro
      • Antonio Trashorras
      • David Muñoz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Cronos
    6.7
    Cronos
    The Orphanage
    7.4
    The Orphanage
    Crimson Peak
    6.5
    Crimson Peak
    Pan's Labyrinth
    8.2
    Pan's Labyrinth
    Mimic
    6.0
    Mimic
    Hellboy
    6.8
    Hellboy
    Thesis
    7.4
    Thesis
    The Shape of Water
    7.3
    The Shape of Water
    Hellboy II: The Golden Army
    7.0
    Hellboy II: The Golden Army
    Let the Right One In
    7.9
    Let the Right One In
    Geometria
    6.5
    Geometria
    Nightmare Alley
    7.0
    Nightmare Alley

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Described by Guillermo del Toro as being a sibling film to Pan's Labyrinth (2006) (this being the masculine "brother" film, and Pan's as the feminine "sister" film).
    • Goofs
      The amount of gold Jacinto puts in his pockets and ties to his belt would probably pull his pants off and definitely make it impossible for him to stand and walk the way he does.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      [voice over narration]

      Casares: What is a ghost? A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and again? An instant of pain, perhaps. Something dead which still seems to be alive. An emotion suspended in time. Like a blurred photograph. Like an insect trapped in amber.

    • Crazy credits
      During the opening credits sequence, the letters of the film's title can be seen floating around the preserved fetuses. Eventually, the letters come together to form the title.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 100 Scariest Movie Moments: Part II: 75-51 (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Una lágrima
      Written by Eugenio Cardenas (as E. Cardenas) and Nicolás Verona (as N. Verona)

      Performed by Carlos Gardel

      Courtesy Blue Moon Producciones Discograficas

    User reviews250

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Haunting, Sad And Beautiful
    A beautiful, atmospheric story about a haunted orphanage. To date, I think it's Del Toro's most "complete" film, combining his trademark visuals with a very touching story about war, death, guilt and grief - and ultimately hope.

    Like 'Pan's Labyrinth' the story is set against the backdrop of the Spanish civil war (although here the war serves merely as a background noise). The film is so beautifully shot that I would recommend it even to people who don't normally like ghost stories (it does have some scary moments, mind); this one transcends the horror genre. 8 stars out of 10.

    In case you're interested in more underrated masterpieces, here's some of my favorites:

    imdb.com/list/ls070242495
    helpful•57
    6
    • gogoschka-1
    • Feb 11, 2018

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ1

    • what is the significance of the picture in jacinto's hand...??and why carmen never wants to kiss jacinto when they have sexual relationship??

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 20, 2001 (Spain)
    • Countries of origin
      • Spain
      • Mexico
    • Official sites
      • El Deseo (Spain)
      • Official site
    • Language
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Xương Quỷ
    • Filming locations
      • Talamanca del Jarama, Madrid, Spain
    • Production companies
      • El Deseo
      • Tequila Gang
      • Sogepaq
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $755,249
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $34,963
      • Nov 25, 2001
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,582,065
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Devil's Backbone (2001)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Devil's Backbone (2001) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.