People have always called Tim Burton the biggest name in dark fairy tales, but it’s always been Guillermo Del Toro for me. Sure, Burton’s adapted more fairy tale stories in his lifetime, while Del Toro has experimented with many different forms of film, but that’s what makes him so effective as an auteur. Guillermo Del Toro changed cinema with the release of Pan’s Labyrinth back in 2006, a film so beautifully traumatic, heartbreaking, and hopeful, full of fantasy and yet more real than anything you would see come out of Spain in a while.
How to Download Pan’s Labyrinth
You can download the film from a digital store. You can also stream it. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. Check out also other interesting films by Guillermo Del Toro, for example, The Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley, or Pacific Rim.
The Movie Review
This is truly one of those films where I don’t want to give out much, so I’ll just write up a brief synopsis of the film in my own words. The year is 1944, and for a young girl just entering her teens, Franco’s totalitarian fascist rule is a terrifying place to live. We witness as young Ofelia withdraws within a world of fantastical creatures and stories, finding lessons in her adventures where she will need to learn about bravery, self-control, and integrity. A maze of worries and doubts from which Spain won’t be able to escape for a while, Ofelia’s journey is what we witness through her perspective.
Guillermo Del Toro is a true genius when it comes to Pan’s Labyrinth, I often times have no words to describe this film due to my love for it. Pan’s Labyrinth is a brutal fairytale that succeeds in evoking emotion at every turn. It is chillingly real-world-based and yet full of tenderness and hope.
The one word that best describes this movie is ‘dreams.’ It is a synthesis of imagination and folklore, full of pictures and symbols that speak to our core selves. Since the conscious mind may accept a sign more readily than it would a rational argument alone, artists and others who have created mythologies and religions have used such symbols for guidance and inspiration for a very long time. Pan’s Labyrinth utilizes these techniques perfectly, which is why it is so incredibly moving.
There’s something innately perfect about the production design of this film. There are a TON of practical effects, combined with visual effects that look so realistic it’s impossible to tell the difference. The monsters from Del Toro’s imagination are brought to life here, and each one is seemingly more horrifying than the last. Guillermo Del Toro has crafted something truly unique that combines elements of a war film, a fantasy, and body horror. It has everything a horror and dark fantasy fan could want in a movie.
Both Sergi Lopez, who plays Captain Vidal in the movie, and Ivana Baquero, who plays the lead character Ofelia, give outstanding performances. Although Capitán Vidal was a made-up character, there have been many like him throughout history, which makes this fascist character so terrifying.
Sergi Lopez dives into the psyche of humans who are capable of horrific atrocities. Maribel Verdu’s quiet but defiant housekeeper is a highlight in the film, and she is supported by a plethora of talent here. Our young protagonist, the young Ivana Baquero portrays 12-year-old Ofelia with a startling amount of confidence, and I particularly enjoyed how she dealt with the supernatural creatures she comes across in the labyrinth. The cherry on top of this twisted fairy tale is Doug Jones, who provides a towering performance as the keeper of the labyrinth, a Faun, full of grace, charm, and ominous undertones.
The Visuals
The camera work in Pan’s Labyrinth is the glue that holds everything together. Whether Ofelia is face-down in the mud and covered in insects or a helpless victim has his nose broken by the Capitán, rich, visceral colors and the no-compromise camerawork keep you immersed in the experience.
The cinematography is stunning, using fiery reds and oranges to portray the unreal and dark, depressing blue tones to express reality in its melancholic sadness. By the end of the film, the blues would have grown so accustomed to the viewer’s eye, the reds of blood and the brightness of explosions stand out.
The Music
Javier Navarette’s soundtrack is lovely, melancholy, and eerie. The music is some of the best I’ve heard in a long time. It perfectly blends so seamlessly with the visual, emotional, and intellectual experience that you almost don’t realize its unique effect.
The Verdict
it is evident that every aspect of this film was crafted with the utmost attention to detail, this was a labor of love and you could definitely tell in each and every scene.
Many of the most fundamental mythological themes were dissected in Pan’s Labyrinth, including parallel universes, risky undertakings, secret identities, sacrifice, and death. Yet it combined that brisk design with a historical thriller that brought something completely new to the table. It did something different from the typical fantasy film, which is precisely why it was such a fantastic movie.
