The Devil's Backbone (2001)

Del Toro uses children as his protagonists in 'The Devil's Backbone' to perfection, as we see them on the periphery of their innocence- living in an all boys orphanage. This lack of innocence that they all suffer from is used to bring in the comedic side of Del Toro , with smiles and chuckles arising on the spectators face every time we hear them make use of the few curse words they know and when they show their understanding of the female anatomy.

The colourful signature hues of Del Toro are once again as expected are present through the colour amber, as we feel the desert in the film as well as seeing it through the various establishing shots of the orphanage and the land that surrounds it. I would also say that a newer of Del Toro's auteur stamps would be the aesthetic of his ghouls, as we can see very similar ghosts in films such as 'Crimson Peak'.

I was slightly disappointed at how obvious certain parts in the story line, such as the where abouts of the hidden gold and the purpose of it when Jacinto ties it to his belt. We also have a slight change of protagonists throughout the film as the shift changes from one boy to another throughout.