Quench
Pan’s labyrinth
Fresh from Oscar success, it is hard to describe in words the success of del Toro’s opus, but if summary is a necessity then it could be said that Pan’s Labyrinth is conflict through the eyes of an innocent.
As for the faun himself (who, curiously enough, is not actually called Pan), prolific suit performer and actor Doug Jones (next to be seen as the Silver surfer in the upcoming Fantastic Four sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer) has created a marvel. Previously having played the merman Abe Sapien in del Toro’s Hellboy, Jones manages to turn movement into poetry beneath layers of heavy prosthesis. Similarly, his other performance, as the nightmare-inducing Pale Man is equally incredible, providing one of the film’s standout moments while also displaying the director’s firm grasp of the horror genre.
It is film art, with its innovative writer/director now having turned down the lucrative offer of two Harry Potter projects and Halo in preference of more personal projects. We can only hope that this passion is maintained in the future, because in Pan’s Labyrinth del Toro has produced one of the most memorable films of the decade. Ewen Hosie
This Week
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