Pan's Labyrinth

Phenomenal cinematography, darkly appealing creatures and prolonged moments of visceral fear abound in the explosion of creativity and spooky visual entertainment that is Pan’s Labyrinth. Del Toro perfectly showcases his dark side with this disturbingly enticing film.

The journey Del Toro takes us on begins with our heroin, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), lying motionless on a cold grey slab of stone overlooking an ancient earthen cavity. Before we’re allowed too much time to ponder how she might have come to such a dower place, we are whisked back several days to her arrival in a remote part of Spain in 1944.

Ofelia is nearing the end of a long, bumpy trek to her new father’s military station, an old grey and decaying house in the mountains, with her pregnant mother. The closer they get to their destination, the more Ofelia begins to notice strange, almost magical, occurrences in her surroundings.

Upon their arrival, Ofelia meets her step father; the war hardened Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez). Before Ofelia can fall into the strict regime the Captain has in store for her and her mother, she finds her way to an untouched ancient labyrinth. Before she can delve into the abyss, the reserved and haunted Mercedes catches her by the arm and warns her of the dangers of such a place.

Mercedes takes on many roles in the house; head maid, nanny and informant to name a few. Maribel Verdu quietly fills the role of Mercedes and brings to the screen a subtle force that steals your heart from the moment she appears.

Once night falls, Ofelia makes her way back to the labyrinth and descends into an ancient orifice where she meets a faun. The creature charges her with several dangerous tasks to enter his world. Optimistic and unfaltering Ofelia takes them on without as much as a whimper.

This is where the fun REALLY begins. Those of you with weak stomachs, please exit the theatre. You're about to be taken down a horrific path of violence, bodily fluids, gore and abuse. The height of fright comes with the C hild Eater. Suspense builds and builds within this scene - you'll get very familiar with the edge of your seat. Del Toro's intimate knowledge of what goes bump in the night is brazenly displayed on screen.

Pan's Labyrinth does an excellent job of moving back and forth between reality and fantasy. It’s easy to forget what is real and what lies just beyond reality. The only thing that seems to stay a constant in Ofelia’s world is gore. Despite the sometimes overwhelming (but beautifully crafted) visuals, Pan’s Labyrinth is a deliciously unhurried and captivating film.