The Shifting Genres of J.A. Bayona’s ‘The Orphanage’ [Horror Queers Podcast]
Scary Sad.
Horror Queers Podcast has spent October celebrating 30 years of To Die For (listen), 50 years of Cronenberg’s feature debut Shivers (listen) and the ingenuity of the Chiodo Brothers’ Killer Klowns from Outer Space (listen). Now we’re closing out scary season with a classic contemporary ghost story with J.A. Bayona‘s The Orphanage (2007).
In the film, Laura (Belén Rueda) returns to the orphanage where she briefly lived as a child, along with her doctor husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) and their adopted son Simón (Roger Príncep). Shortly after an unusual encounter with social worker Benigna (Montserrat Carulla), Simón goes missing, initiating a desperate search that consumes Laura and Carlos’ lives.
In a last ditch effort, Laura employs the services of Aurora (Geraldine Chaplin), a medium who makes contact with the ghosts of several children living in the house. Were they responsible for Simón’s abduction? Was Benigna? How did the bones of several children wind up in a shed? And could Simón still be alive somewhere?
The truth is both less obvious and more sad than expected in Sergio G. Sánchez’s script, which is tragic, haunting, and quite a bit darker than expected.
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Episode 357: The Orphanage (2007) feat. Shelagh Rowan-Legg
Don your mask for the treasure hunt because we’re discussing J.A. Bayona’s The Orphanage (2007) along with Spanish horror scholar (and returning guest) Shelagh Rowan-Legg.
Join us as we praise Belén Rueda’s lead performance, the film’s unsettling set pieces, its curious lack of Spanish cultural signifiers, and speculate on the film’s use of HIV in the plot.
Plus: the film’s obsession with jaws, Joe’s suspicions of Carlos’ infidelity, and multiple interpretations of the bittersweet ending!
Cross out The Orphanage!
Coming Up Next: We’re celebrating Halloween with a trio of divas, as well as Jack Nicholson, in George Miller’s 1987 comedy, The Witches of Eastwick.
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