The Orphanage (2008)

"The Orphanage" ("El Orfornato") definitely comes from the mind of Guillermo del Toro, who directed "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Devil's Backbone." But Jan Bayona is the helmer here as del Toro only produced. Nevertheless, like those great films, this is a gorgeous gem dealing with children, death, supernatural forces and raw-nerve endings. This fascinating, unnerving film mixes, I kid you not, "Peter Pan" with "Poltergeist" with "The Elephant Man," with a heart-startling shot of startling originality and the nastiest "hit by a truck" scene you'll ever see. Plus the stomach punch found in Spanish films. This ain't no American "feel good" film. The ending puts a kick to the gut. A