The Orphanage or El Orfanato (2007)

This week we're checking into The Orphanage—proof that if a creepy old mansion is available for purchase, there's probably a very good reason. Also, that might be your cue to request a discount! THE ORPHANAGE Release Date: May 20th, 2007 BUDGET: $4 million The Orphanage (El Orfanato, 2007) is a Spanish gothic horror film directed by J. A. Bayona, written by Sergio G. Sánchez, and produced by Mar Targarona, Joaquín Padró, and Álvaro Augustin, with Guillermo del Toro serving as executive producer. The film stars Belén Rueda as Laura, who returns with her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) and adopted son Simón (Roger Príncep) to the orphanage where she grew up. Hoping to reopen the property as a home for disabled children, Laura instead finds herself drawn into a series of strange and unsettling events. The film's haunting score was composed by Fernando Velázquez. When Simón suddenly disappears, Laura becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind his disappearance. Her search leads her to dark secrets hidden within the orphanage and to the spirits of children connected to its tragic past. As reality and the supernatural begin to blur, Laura must confront heartbreaking revelations that test her love and determination as a mother. Filming took place primarily in Asturias, Spain, including the historic Partarríu Manor in Llanes, which served as the orphanage exterior. Much of the interior was later recreated on soundstages in Barcelona to give J. A. Bayona greater creative control. An interesting production fact is that Guillermo del Toro helped secure additional funding for the project after being impressed by the screenplay, allowing the film's budget and production scope to expand significantly. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007 and became one of the most acclaimed Spanish horror films of its generation. We hope you enjoy the show. You can email Sam, Sarah, and Meika here with questions, corrections, movie suggestions, or just to say hello. Want to support the show? Consider joining our Patreon, where you can gain access to our merchandise raffles, live Q&As, monthly Horror Book Club, and a lot more. Show links:  Oh, the Horror! Official Instagram Oh, the Horror Official Patreon Sam Pancake's X (Formerly known as Twitter) Sam Pancake's Instagram Sarah Burns' Instagram Sarah Burns' Linktree Get a custom Cameo video from Sarah! music & editing by Meika Grimm. Follow her on Instagram, or hire her for your audio/video/web needs. 😊