Premium Content:

Pan's Labyrinth (MA) Directed by Guillermo Del Toro

Pan's LabyrinthThis dark fable is not for children, and even adults will find the acts of violence quite distressing. Coming from a writer/director who is well known for his horror films (Cronos, Hellboy and Blade 2), Pan’s Labyrinth takes place in Spain during the time of Franco. The Civil War has ended and Carmen (Ariadna Gil) joins her new husband, the coldly authoritarian Vidal (Sergi Lopez) who is a captain in Franco’s army. While Vidal quells the rebel uprisings and Carmen is heavy with child, her 11-year-old daughter Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) escapes to a magic world in the surrounding forest.

When her mother becomes ill, it is the housekeeper Mercedes (Maribel Verdu) who watches over the young girl. Ofelia escapes into a labyrinth and follows the instructions of a frightening creature, inspired by the ancient Greek god Pan who could bring forth creation or destruction. The film is steeped in metaphor and compared with those that lurk within shadows of the labyrinth, Captain Vidal is the greatest monster of them all, for he is the one who personifies the ultimate horror that is fascism.

- Advertisement -

The film is visually stunning as Ofelia makes her way through the obstacles in both the fantasy and the real worlds, but unfortunately both worlds contain terror and treachery. I was disappointed that the young innocent could find little respite in her dreams although there is an attempt to give a happy ending to this Grimm fairy tale.

Pan’s Labyrinth screens at Luna Leederville from 18 January, and Luna Outdoors from 25 January.

Latest

On This Gay Day | ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ was published

It's Truman Capote's most famous work.

Perth wins the 2030 Gay Games, an event that will bring thousands to our city

Perth has won the 2030 Gay Games, an event...

Bjorn Andrésen, ‘The Most Beautiful Boy in the World’, dies aged 70

The Swedish actor found fame in the 1971 film 'Death in Venice'.

More organisations pull out of the 2025 Better Together conference

Concern over a podcast has seen more organisations announce a boycott of the Better Together conference.

Newsletter

Don't miss

On This Gay Day | ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ was published

It's Truman Capote's most famous work.

Perth wins the 2030 Gay Games, an event that will bring thousands to our city

Perth has won the 2030 Gay Games, an event...

Bjorn Andrésen, ‘The Most Beautiful Boy in the World’, dies aged 70

The Swedish actor found fame in the 1971 film 'Death in Venice'.

More organisations pull out of the 2025 Better Together conference

Concern over a podcast has seen more organisations announce a boycott of the Better Together conference.

Looking fabulous at the Proud Awards

There was fashion aplenty at the 2025 Proud Awards.

On This Gay Day | ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ was published

It's Truman Capote's most famous work.

Perth wins the 2030 Gay Games, an event that will bring thousands to our city

Perth has won the 2030 Gay Games, an event that is set to bring thousands of people to city to participate in sport, cultural...

Bjorn Andrésen, ‘The Most Beautiful Boy in the World’, dies aged 70

The Swedish actor found fame in the 1971 film 'Death in Venice'.