Ep 146 - PAN'S LABYRINTH (2006) - Guillermo del Toro's Dark Fantasy Classic Turns 20!!

PAN'S LABYRINTH (2006) d. Guillermo del Toro (Mexico/Spain) Revisiting Guillermo del Toro's metaphorical masterpiece combining dark real-world horror (Franco's civil war-torn Spain) with children's fantasy, it's a little surprising to realize that this, his last Spanish-language movie, was released two decades ago. For me personally, whether directing (Cronos, The Devil's Backbone) or producing (The Orphanage, Biutiful, Julia's Eyes), everyone's favorite Mexican-born monster kid delivers his best work in his native language. As diverting and visually imaginative as his Hollywood popcorn efforts like Pacific Rim and the Hellboy movies are, the heart, depth, and intellect of his more "personal" films resonate on a completely different level. Interweaving fantasy and reality, visual poetry with graphic violence, Pan's Labyrinth is an incredible cinematic experience, with astonishing production/set design, Guillermo Navarro's cinematography, and breathtaking makeup designs, each earning Oscars in their respective fields. The film also was nominated for Javier Navarrete's exquisite musical score, del Toro's brilliant screenplay, and Best Foreign Film. Within the incredible ensemble, special notice goes out to Maribel Verdu as the duplicitous housemaid Mercedes, Sergi Lopez's military and all too human monster, and Ivana Baquero as Ofelia, whose guileless central performance anchors the picture. A unequivocal must-see, the film continues to reward after countless viewings through various lenses, like every classic fairy tale. Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Michelle Kisner, Tyler Pistorius, Lee Price, Elena Romea, Maura Sarazen) as we celebrate 20 years of PAN'S LABYRINTH!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MICHELLE KISNER is a film critic, freelance writer, and physical media advocate. She has contributed to several websites to include The Cultural Gutter and The Movie Sleuth and is also a member of the Michigan Movie Critics Guild.  TYLER PISTORIUS is an actor, screenwriter, and producer living in Chicago. His recent works include Death is Business and A Missed Connection, and is currently in development on a new project. LEE PRICE has dedicated his career to celebrating our history and culture (including horror films!) through freelance writing and 25 years with the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts. He is a guest blogger at "Wonders in the Dark." ELENA ROMEA is the creator behind SpanishFear.com and Horror Rises from Spain. A researcher in literature and cinema, she holds a Ph.D. in Spanish Studies with a dissertation about the filmmaker José Val del Omar. Her work explores themes of estrangement, horror, myth, and cultural conflict. MAURA SARAZEN has been watching horror movies since she was a child. Her earliest memory is watching The Exorcist while in a playpen. She enjoys long walks in a fog-filled forest, her favorite eye color is black sclera, and she truly believes turning into a werewolf would fix her back problems. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!