FilmFlicking

Catnapper · Site Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 6799

The same thing happened with Ils (Them) if you remember Honey! You thought Ils was very creepy and scary while I was disappointed it wasn't as scary as the hype suggested it would be! Maybe it's because Ils had a frantic pace while The Orphanage builds up the story over a few months after Simon's disappearance?

I agree about the ending though

Luc - Yeah I did jump at certain parts

The 1-2-3 knocking game for starters!

One thing though about Ils and The Orphanage.........they both take place in large houses with lots of rooms and corridors. Is that more scary than in a small house do you think?

Madamhoney · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:06 am Post subject:

Definitely, you never know who or what could be hiding in those rooms. And the fact that some of the rooms will hardly ever be used, because unless you've loads of people living there it's just not possible to use them all regularly, then it's creepy to go in a room like that. They have a different atmosphere.

We obviously find different things scary - lol. I thought with that game it would've been far more creepy if, when she turned round it showed the kid in close up being nearer her. And at the end just before it touched her if she'd turned round and there were loads there all with their arms outstretched ready to grab her, that would've been far more scary. It just looked too normal to me to be at all creepy. But then maybe the normality of it would be the thing that to someone else was scary?!

Imagine though if she turned round and it just showed a close up of this kid with his arm out ready to touch her, filling up the screen. The feeling of dread would be far greater.

Lucifer_666 · Site Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 10319

Yep I think its individual tastes at the end of day...I personally didn't find it long but I also loved the atmosphere and build up....
By the way I don't know about you ladies but one of the bits I wasn't expecting was the old woman scene....you know the bit when she calls out to her in the street

...I did jump

As for the scene with the 1 2 3 knocking game....I think the director was kind of mixing different types of horror film techniques throughout the movie and in fairness he probably could have done what you suggested there Honey but I liked the fact that you really didn't know when you were going to get the shock and what kind....yes having a child suddenly right behind her may have frightened lots and it is the obvious thing to do yet the fact he decided not to sort of added to it for me....
An example of what I'm referring to was the scene where she sees the boy in the mask, he walks towards her, it kind of lolls you into a false sense of security but in the back of your mind you know the scare is coming...and then it does!...But then if you take into account the scene I was on about earlier with the old woman, you are watching it relaxed and curious until the shock suddenly comes like a bolt out of the blue.

Perhaps I'm over-analysing it?

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Madamhoney · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:28 pm Post subject:

Catnapper · Site Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 6799

When she kept doing the knocking game I expected to see children creeping towards her and I was straining my eyes trying to see them

so when the hand appeared I jumped!

Yeah the old lady on the road scene made me jump too cause I wasn't expecting it! She looked pretty gruesome too

Lucifer_666 · Site Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 10319

Well I think by not giving you the shock it kind of left you more uncertain when the shocks would come...well thats my opinion

Oh well... everyone's tastes are different

I really did like the scene with the old lady alright
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JohnG · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject:

This is one of this years films that I am excited about seeing. I am a huge fan of the horror genre (particularly the atmospheric and creepy ones) and am loving the films that are coming from Asia and Europe. The first time I saw the advert for this film in Empire mag, the little kid with a sack on his/her head combined with the words THE ORPHANAGE sent a real shiver down my spine.
This film was produced by Guillermo del Toro who was the director of both Pan's Labyrinth and The Devil's Backbone and he's also the guy who is going to direct The Hobbit, so that's something to look forward to.

Catnapper · Site Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 6799

I'm sure you'll love it John especially since you said about liking atmospheric and creepy films! It's one of my favourite movies this year

Lucifer_666 · Site Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 10319

Yeah i have to agree with Cat John it was a favourite of mine this year too....you will like it I bet

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