Fridae

We were simply amazed by this beautifully-crafted Spanish horror film, which mixes sweetness, sentimentality, scares and suspense into making one of the most enjoyable films � horror or not � in recent memory.

You really don't have to be a horror buff to enjoy this one. Instead of trading in blood and gore as most horror films nowadays do, The Orphanage concentrates on telling a good and meaningful story about a mother and a son living in an old, haunted orphanage. And the result is an unexpectedly fresh and touching genre picture.

Belen Rueda delivers a wry and effective performance as a mother caring for her adopted son (Roger Princep) who was born HIV-positive. She and her doctor husband lovingly care for the boy, showering him with gifts and regularly giving him his medication. But when the family moves to an old orphanage which they hope to turn into a home for special-needs children, the building's haunted past quickly destroy their happiness...

Like Nicole Kidman's The Others, The Orphanage is an atmospheric mystery that builds its foundations on a mother's love for her young one. There are strong performances, subtle scares and a superb score and sound design. But while The Others failed to surprise � many people found the ending too similar to The Sixth Sense � The Orphanage succeeds completely with its stunning ending.

Winner of 23 international film awards, this is the must-watch for the whole of March.