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IMDbPro

The Devil's Backbone

Original title: El espinazo del diablo
  • 20012001
  • RR
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
66K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,632
579
The Devil's Backbone (2001)
Theatrical Trailer from Columbia Pictures
Play trailer2:10
2 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.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
66K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,632
579
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Guillermo del Toro
    • Writers
      • Guillermo del Toro
      • Antonio Trashorras
      • David Muñoz
    • Stars
      • Marisa Paredes
      • Eduardo Noriega
      • Federico Luppi
    Top credits
    • 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
    • 243User reviews
    • 158Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 11 nominations

    Videos2

    The Devil's Backbone
    Trailer 2:10
    The Devil's Backbone
    How 'Pan's Labyrinth' Inspired 'Scary Stories'
    Clip 2:49
    How 'Pan's Labyrinth' Inspired 'Scary Stories'

    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
    • 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

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    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 reviews243

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    among the best work I've seen
    Great care has been taken with the art direction. You are immediately transported to 1939, with Franco's army about to descend on the Spanish countryside. Even the crumbling buildings of the boys' school the characters inhabit play a role. The actors are superb, and the child actors give award-worthy performances.

    This story is only incidentally a ghost story. It's a story about love and betrayal and the miseries of war visited on a people. It has a lot to teach about the depths of human cruelty, and the grace of sacrifice. It left me weeping. I don't want to label it Del Toro's masterpiece so early in his career, but it will stand through the years with his best work.
    helpful•57
    23
    • aktaylor
    • May 2, 2005

    Everything That's New on HBO Max in August

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    [object Object]
    Photos

    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

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