The Devil's Backbone (2001) ***1/2

While The Devil's Backbone (2001) doesn't quite enthrall me the way it did the first few times I saw it, it's still a very well-made film. Guillermo del Toro's political ghost drama is heavy with pathos, pain, and poetic justice. The special effects don't hold up great after twenty years (the film works better when it keeps to the realm of practical work) but the themes of loss, the effects of war, and boyhood bonds remain potent.

You can find my Guillermo del Toro Feature Films Ranked list here.