Why you should see
Pan's LabyrinthA 21st century masterpiece that interweaves the realm of the fantastic with the horrible reality of Spain under fascism, its uncanny ability to hold two realities in such perfect counterpoint makes Pan's Labyrinth an incredibly rare achievement in cinema. Guillermo Del Toro's roots are in horror, from an original interpretation of vampires for Cronos to the mainstream devilry of Hellboy. Pan's Labyrinth is a disturbing, at times terrifying experience, summoning such nightmarish monsters as the Pale Man, who devours children and holds his eyes in the palms of his hands, and the fascist Captain Vidal, who administers brutal, misguided justice with the butt of his pistol. Summoning visions that demand to be seen on the big screen, Del Toro's potion mixes fairy tale with Spanish history to show us the violent crimes fascism commits against the imagination.
Matthew De Abaitua
