I often assume that filmmakers don’t have a favorite movie within their own oeuvre. That’s like asking a parent to pick a favorite child. Parents are supposed to love all of their kids equally. However, Guillermo del Toro does not love all of his cinematic offspring equally. He has a clear favorite and he isn’t afraid to speak up about it. As it turns out, his most cherished effort is a feature he co-wrote and directed nearly 25 years ago. It’s a Gothic ghost story set in an orphanage.
If you haven’t guessed yet, I’m talking about The Devil’s Backbone. How do I know that the flick is del Toro’s personal favorite? I know because he told me. Well, he told us all via a Twitter (it will never be X to me) post a while back. The auteur creator’s tweet simply reads: “If you haven’t seen The Devil’s Backbone– know that is my favorite film I’ve made…”
The film came about as del Toro was growing disenchanted with Hollywood.
The Hellboy director helmed Mimic in 1997. That experience was so miserable that it nearly made him leave filmmaking behind. Fortunately, del Toro decided to keep at it. And I’m sure glad he did. Just look at what he’s accomplished in the years since.
I think The Devil’s Backbone marks a sweet spot for the filmmaker because it’s the first movie he made post-Mimic. The Devil’s Backbone is del Toro’s return to filmmaking following a traumatic ordeal. It’s a passion project made for a fraction of the budget of a flashy studio picture that likely reminded the director why he got into filmmaking in the first place.
Synopsis, per Google Movies: After losing his father, 10-year-old Carlos (Fernando Tielve) arrives at the Santa Lucia School, which shelters orphans of the Republican militia and politicians, and is taken in by the steely headmistress, Carmen (Marisa Paredes), and the kindly professor, Casares (Federico Luppi). Soon after his arrival, Carlos has a run-in with the violent caretaker, Jacinto (Eduardo Noriega). Gradually, Carlos uncovers the secrets of the school, including the youthful ghost that wanders the grounds.
If you’ve yet to experience The Devil’s Backbone, you should remedy that. While you can’t find the film on Netflix, Hulu, or any other major streamer, it is currently available to watch via the Internet Archive lending library. You can also currently find del Toro’s favorite film as a digital rental and on physical media.
That is all that I have for you, for the time being. Keep an eye out for more updates from your favorite creators in the genre space as we uncover them. If you’d like to keep up with me on social media, I’m on Threads as @FunWithHorror.
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