I rated it my tenth favorite film of 2007 and it is just as good the second time around. J.A. Bayona's The Orphanage fills a multitude of genres. As much as it can be sold on its ghost story it manages to tell an outstanding emotional story of love, loss and devotion. I have called it a horror film on previous occasions and while the genre title fits there is much more than horror at the core of The Orphanage.

Saturated by R-rated fright flicks, the horror genre has become a wasteland of trash. It is easy, for the most part, to sift through the rubble and find yourself a film you can at least guarantee will be outside the norm, but The Orphanage is a fright flick that even defies unique. This film offers much more than you would expect as it has its share of scares, but also brings acting, directing and storytelling to the forefront.

Starring Belen Rueda in the lead role as Laura we return with her as she buys the home that was once her orphanage. Laura and her husband Carlos have bought her childhood home in an effort to turn it into a care facility of their own for a handful of special needs children. They have adopted a young boy named Simon who is also in special need as he lives with an incurable disease as well as his imaginary friends.

The situation becomes dire as Simon's imaginary friends begin to grow and suddenly he disappears altogether. Now missing for nine months, Laura begins to show signs the outside world may interpret as paranoia, but the audience is right there with her understanding this is much more than your ordinary home.

Atmosphere, sound effects and supreme acting are first time feature director J.A. Bayona's tools to tell the story and he crafts them masterfully. The film appears to be almost flawless in its telling as you will endure scenes that will give you chills at the same time you feel comfort. It's a delicate balance and it is surprising how well it is achieved.

This Blu-ray disc looks marvelous! Crisp, clear and without flaws and it only enhances the viewing that much more. The special features are also a treat as they tread similar ground that we have seen before but in the making of The Orphanage you would expect, based on the look of the film, they had a limitless budget. However, it is camera tricks and CGI effects that turn this into the magical film it has become. You will see how Ridley Scott's Mason Verger from Hannibal inspired the make-up and how you can make a simple cave opening appear to be miniscule to its surroundings.

I can't recommend this film enough. Buy it. Watch it. Enjoy it monthly and I can guarantee it won't lose its luster over the years.