“The Orphanage”

Rating: 7 / 10

Starring: Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep

Plot: Laura (Rueda) and her husband Carlos (Cayo) have decided to reopen the orphanage where Laura grew up and aid children along a remote coastline in Mexico. Superstition runs rampant when their adopted son Simón is kidnapped, and evidence of foul play from the afterlife seems to be reason for the disappearance.

The Good: Following the wake of “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “The Orphanage” demonstrates that a foreign film from south of the border can be better than what is made in the states. Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, or anyone dabbling in weird ideas, should take note how this movie eloquently lays out mystery and suspense to reveal a complex story.

The acting in this film is primarily carried by Rueda, who scores a reputable “10” as a woman who grasps for answers when the unthinkable happens to her son. Her character believably shows that drastic situations can drive any person to forget rationale and accept the supernatural as explanation for reality.

In the spirit of classic Alfred Hitchcock and Rod Serling storytelling, information is granted to the audience in a melodic fashion. On the surface, “The Orphanage” is a thriller, but beneath a tapestry of finely woven layers, this is a well-crafted puzzle that not even the good Mr. Holmes would be able to solve until the very end.

The Bad: As with all foreign films, “The Orphanage” suffers from the annoying occurrence of subtitles. This is not to say that the film should not be enjoyed in its native tongue, but looking back and forth across the screen can be distracting for such an enthralling thriller.

An audience member must be able to pay extra attention to the smallest of details during this movie. Any ignored point or brushed-over nuance can lead to the story not being fully appreciated. This is not a film for seat fillers who do not want to think during a movie.

The Lowdown: “The Orphanage” proves that unsolved mysteries did not die out with Robert Stack. Deep down, people still crave an explanation to the odd occurrences of their lives, and the mind draws a fine line between the unthinkable and the unbearable. Shame on anyone who would allow this gem to go unseen when it is guaranteed to playfully take advantage of the intellect’s inability to connect the dots.