*A quick note before getting into this review; Pan’s Labyrinth is not a film which is intended for younger audiences. Like many of his other films, Guillermo del Toro crafts a very dark fairy tale inspired film for adults with elements of both fantasy and horror. The film is also presented in Spanish just as it was filmed and there is no option for a dubbed version and while there are subtitles, this may not appeal to all viewers.
We’ve all grown up with fables and fairy tales of various sorts. They have been passed down and retold for not only generations, but centuries in some cases. In today’s world though, fairy tales seem to be of little use, at least that’s what some might claim. Inside all of us though, there’s still that portion of our youth that loves these tales, and Guillermo del Toro has created one for the modern age.
El Laberinto del Fauno, better known outside of Spanish speaking countries as Pan’s Labyrinth, has all the makings of a fairy tale. Set during the Spanish Civil War of 1944, young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is moving to the country with her pregnant mother Carmen (Ariadna Gil) but she’s not pleased about having to move in with her step-father, Captain Vidal (Sergi López) who happens to be in command of the soldiers trying to put an end to the war by crushing the resistance members lurking in the woods. On the way, Ofelia spots an insect she believes to be a fairy, and that’s where her adventure begins.
Soon, Ofelia encounters the strange creature again and it transforms itself into a fairy and leads her into a labyrinth behind her new home. There, underground, she meets with a Faun (Doug Jones) who informs her that she is really the reincarnation of Princess Moanna. She should manage to complete three tasks before the next full moon, she will be given entrance into the kingdom that is rightful hers. She is given a magical book that will guide her on her way, but meanwhile, the war is becoming more violent, her mother has fallen ill, and there is treachery within the household. Ofelia finds herself caught between a mystical world and one full of pain and suffering as she tries to accomplish the tasks that might lead her to a better life.
Pan’s Labyrinth, from what you may have seen in some of the trailers, seems as though it’s more of a high end fairy tale, something along the lines of Narnia or any number of other fantasy tales that have been making their way to theaters over the past few years. However, the movie focuses more on the war and the struggle that Ofelia is going through in the real world. That isn’t to say however that the movie is a bad one, and del Toro does balance things out quite well. Were the fantasy element a huge portion of the movie, I think it would actually ruin the overall feeling that the movie is trying to convey.
Ofelia’s attempts to deal with her new surroundings and situation are very much like any fairy tale. We have the wicked stepmother or stepfather in this instance, who is determined that she will act and do exactly as she is told. Wicked really is quite an accurate depiction as Vidal is a cruel man who has no qualms with harming or even killing innocents, and he isn’t above acts of torture either. This brings in some very familiar territory and as any del Toro fan knows, he enjoys throwing in some gore when necessary, and Pan’s Labyrinth definitely has that, though not in droves. What he does bring to the film though is quite graphic, often even to the extent where you might find yourself cringing slightly, but it all works to tell the story.
Beyond the war and troubled home life however, you’ll find some fantasy elements that help bring the story to life. There are creatures that transform magnificently on screen, fantastic locations that are perfectly created to such you into the world of Pan’s Labyrinth, and of course some portions that bring a bit of fear and foreboding as well. The effects are done beautifully as you watch thing happen before your eyes such as the blank pages in Ofelia’s book suddenly spring to life with images and colors, strange creatures unlike any other, and while the visit to this world are quite few, what is shown is memorable and captivating. There are times when the setting has an almost Lovecraftian feeling to it, and it comes as no surprise that on del Toro’s list of films is in fact an adaptation of a Lovecraft story, though nothing concrete has been said about the upcoming project.
Pan’s Labyrinth tends to move from reality to the surreal and back again with very little effort, thus managing to pull us into its domain and then releases us just as quickly as it sucked us in. This is part of the magic of the film, but there is magic all around. The grand special effects and fantastic tale are just two of many elements that make the film cohesive and quite easy to get lost in, and that is the making of good cinema.
Pan’s Labyrinth doesn’t include any new features for the 4K release although this marks the first time, at least to my knowledge, where a digital code was included with the film although the blu-ray was one of the movies on Vudu’s digital conversion list. As expected, the special features are found on the blu-ray although the 4K does at least have the commentary. The extras are as follows:
Audio commentary by Guillermo del Toro
Video prologue by Guillermo del Toro
The Power of Myth
The Faun and the Fairies
The Color and the Shape
The Director’s Notebook
Once again we find that del Toro manages to make a highly entertaining, captivating, and visually stunning piece of work. Pan’s Labyrinth managed to find its way onto many critic’s favorites list for a very good reason. Yes, this is a fairy tale, a fable of sorts, but certainly not one that is meant for young viewers. It’s for the adult who has that child yearning to be released, if only for a little while, and Pan’s Labyrinth is an adventure of mind, body, and soul that will have you remembering youth and revisiting it again and again.
*This 4K release was provided by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for review purposes.
Mike is the resident reviewer for Couponing to Disney and his own site Underland Online. He has a young daughter and is obsessed with Haunted Mansion and all things Disney. You can read Mike’s complete bio here.