Ep. 130: Guillermo del Toro's "The Devil’s Backbone" (2001)
from Screams & Streams Hosted by Chad, Mike, & Sam
A ghost in a basement pool is scary, sure, but the real question we can’t stop asking is simpler: does The Devil’s Backbone even feel like a horror movie? We sit down with Guillermo del Toro’s 2001 Spanish Civil War haunted orphanage tale (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and argue our way through the tone, the pacing, and the genre label that follows Del Toro everywhere. We talk first impressions, including why the slow burn works for some of us and drags for others, and how the film’s dread comes less from jump scares and more from cruelty, hunger, and power. Along the way we hit our favorite Screams and Streams categories: the Tropes Hall of Shame (yes, the whispering voice and the classic keyhole scare), the “don’t go back in the house” decisions that could’ve saved lives, and the moments that made us laugh in a movie that’s otherwise bleak. Then we get into what really holds up: the ghost design with those cracked, leaking wounds, the strong performances from a cast full of kids, and a villain so hateable he almost redefines the threat. We also unpack the most unsettling details, including the infamous “fetus rum” and Jacinto’s escalation from greed to something far worse, before landing on our watchability scores and who we think should press play. Follow us at @ScreamStreamPod, share the episode with a horror fan who loves a good debate, and please rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen. Head to www.screamsandstreams.com for more information related to our episode.
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What this episode covers
A ghost in a basement pool is scary, sure, but the real question we can’t stop asking is simpler: does The Devil’s Backbone even feel like a horror movie? We sit down with Guillermo del Toro’s 2001 Spanish Civil War haunted orphanage tale (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and argue our way through the tone, the pacing, and the genre label that follows Del Toro everywhere. We talk first impressions, including why the slow burn works for some of us and drags for others, and how the film’s dread comes l...
Chapters
- 0:04 Welcome And Spoiler Warning
- 1:21 Sinister Sip Orphan’s Blood
- 2:36 First Impressions And Horror Debate
- 7:44 Tropes Hall Of Shame
- 11:38 Don’t Go Back In The House
- 16:38 Quotes And What Doesn’t Hold Up
- 22:42 Gratuitous Moments And Big Icks
- 25:26 Scares That Actually Landed
- 30:53 What Aged Well Plus Laughs
- 33:17 Sound Notes And What The Fuck
- 36:03 Shadows Fright Done Right Research
- 38:30 Watchability Scores And Farewell
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