The Devil's Backbone

The Devil's Backbone is a 2001 Spanish-language gothic horror film directed by Guillermo del Toro, and written by del Toro, David Muñoz, and Antonio Trashorras. Set in Spain, 1939, during the final year of the Spanish Civil War, the film follows a boy who is left in an orphanage operated by Republican loyalists and haunted by the ghost of a recently deceased boy. It stars Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi, Irene Visedo, Fernando Tielve in his film debut, and Íñigo Garcés. Released in Spain by Warner Sogefilms on 20 April 2001, the film received mostly positive reviews from critics.