The Devil's Backbone (#666) (Criterion Collection)[USA]

[alvoi]

Release Date:July 30, 2013
Purchase: Amazon

Spain, Mexico
2001
108 minutes
Color
1.85:1
Spanish

DIRECTOR APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION

One of the most personal films by Guillermo del Toro, The Devil’s Backbone is also among his most frightening and emotionally layered. Set during the final week of the Spanish Civil War, it tells the tale of a twelve-year-old boy who, after his freedom-fighting father is killed, is sent to a haunted rural orphanage full of terrible secrets. Del Toro expertly combines gothic ghost story, murder mystery, and historical melodrama in a stylish mélange that, like his later Pan’s Labyrinth, reminds us the scariest monsters are often the human ones.

Disc Features:

1. New 2K digital film restoration, approved by director Guillermo del Toro and cinematographer Guillermo Navarro, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition
2. Audio commentary featuring Del Toro
3. Video introduction by Del Toro from 2010
4. New interviews with Del Toro about the process of creating the ghost Santi and the drawings and designs made in preparation for the film
5. ¿Que es un fantasma?, a 2004 making-of documentary
6. Spanish Gothic, a 2010 interview with Del Toro about the genre and its influence on his work
7. Interactive director’s notebook, with Del Toro’s drawings and handwritten notes, along with interviews with the filmmaker
8. Four deleted scenes, with optional commentary
9. New featurette about the Spanish Civil War as evoked in the film
10. Program comparing Del Toro’s thumbnail sketches and Carlos Giménez’s storyboards with the final film
11. Selected on-screen presentation of Del Toro’s thumbnail sketches alongside the sections of the final film they represent (Blu-ray edition only)
12. Trailer
13. New English subtitle translation
14. PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Mark Kermode

Three reasons:

​

 

[tridon]

The only del Toro flick I've never seen. Can't wait to see this Criterion treatment!

 

[smokinace]

Del Toro's original work before Hellboy. Great cover!

 

[lolwut]

My favorite Del Toro film by far. What's with the terrible artwork though?

 

[dirtyoak]

I really like the artwork so I can't help you figue out why it's so terrible.

 

[Rand]

Awesome! I've been waiting for this movie to get this type of release on bluray. I'm also digging the new cover, which is actually drawn by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola.

 

[andes]

Saw this in cinema as a sneak preview! One of his best work. A true del toro.
Very nice artwork.

 

[Baz_supreme]

I've never seen this one, alas, seeing as though it gets much praise, I'll have to pick it up. That artwork is very cool, too.

 

[PunkNinja]

Criterion never disappoint on artwork. The Devil's Backbone with spine #666!

 

[triangle]

I hope this will be in B&Ns next sale, was really hoping for this to come.

 

[ABjerg]

Saw this for the first time a little while ago. Great movie! Very unique and with beautiful cinematograhpy as always with Del Toro!

 

[jrsl76]

I hope this will be in B&Ns next sale, was really hoping for this to come.

This was initially not included in the current Barnes & Nobles sale, but was just added. It may or may not last so if anyone's interested, they may want to order it online.

 

[pmartin252]

This was initially not included in the current Barnes & Nobles sale, but was just added. It may or may not last so if anyone's interested, they may want to order it online.

Great news, Just ordered mine - this film is absolutely fantastic!

 

[nekromantik]

Love this flick. Such a haunting drama. Torro perfected art of creating a supernatural drama without being cheesy or cliche!

Got my copy yesterday.

 

[triangle]

They shipped mine monday, can't wait to receive and watch this.
Was very excited when they announced this, was waiting for a decent release for a long time.

 

[nekromantik]

They shipped mine monday, can't wait to receive and watch this.
Was very excited when they announced this, was waiting for a decent release for a long time.

Ditto. Watched it last weekend. Awesome transfer and some cool new interviews with Del Toro.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[Horhay]

I just picked mine up from B&N!

 

[digitalbabe]

Nice, have heard of this one, but never saw it. Loved Pan's and Pacific, so this one has been added to my watch list.

 

[darczap]

This was a blind buy for me. I watched this for the first time yesterday and really enjoyed it. I haven't seen all of GDT's films, but this is my favorite. Even happier about the price. I would say if you like GDT, pick this up from B&N before the price goes back up.

 

[Horhay]

Added three reasons to OP. Obviously, you shouldn't need reasons to watch this. you just should!