The Orphanage – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Orphanage

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2007

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Spanish gothic horror about grief and ghosts—beautifully crafted, deeply disturbing, absolutely not for kids.

7.4/10

87%

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The Orphanage

movie

R, 2007

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Spanish gothic horror about grief and ghosts—beautifully crafted, deeply disturbing, absolutely not for kids.

7.4

87%

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7.4/10

87%

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Screenwise Verdict

The Orphanage is a well-crafted, critically acclaimed Spanish horror film that's earned its reputation among genre fans. It's atmospheric, emotionally complex, and genuinely creepy without resorting to torture porn.

But let's be crystal clear: this is not family viewing. It's not even teen viewing unless you've got a mature 16+ kid who actively seeks out psychological horror and can handle themes of child death and parental suicide. The imagery—mutilated bodies, a child with a skull-like face—is brief but haunting.

If you're a parent looking for something to watch after the kids are asleep and you appreciate smart, slow-burn horror, this is excellent. But it has zero place on a family movie night list, and honestly, the WISE score reflects that reality. Great film, wrong audience for a family platform.

Age Fit

This is for horror-loving older teens (16+) and adults only. The themes of child death, graphic imagery, and psychological torment make it inappropriate for younger viewers. Common Sense Media says 15+, but honestly, most 15-year-olds would find this deeply unsettling.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This is a psychological horror film with deeply disturbing themes including child death, suicide attempt, and grotesque imagery (mutilated car accident victim, deformed child with skull-like face). The emotional tone is dark and grief-soaked throughout, centering on a mother's unraveling as she searches for her missing son. While it avoids gratuitous gore, the subject matter—dead children, parental loss, supernatural terror—is fundamentally unwholesome for family viewing.

Imaginative

Spanish gothic horror that builds atmosphere through psychological dread rather than jump scares. The premise of communicating with invisible friends and the mystery of the orphanage's past creates an eerie, imaginative world. The film invites viewers to question reality and perception, blending supernatural elements with grounded emotional stakes. It's creative in its storytelling approach, though the imagination here serves horror rather than wonder.

Safe

Rated R with Common Sense Media recommending age 15+. Contains disturbing imagery including mutilated bodies, a deformed child's face, suicide attempt, and the death of children as central plot elements. This is exactly the kind of content that would be traumatic if encountered unexpectedly. Parent reviews note it's 'unsettling' and has 'disturbing content' even if it avoids excessive gore. Not safe for children or even most teens.

Enriching

Critically acclaimed (87% RT critics, 74 Metacritic, 7.4 IMDb) as a sophisticated horror film that explores grief, guilt, and maternal love. It offers emotional depth and psychological complexity rather than cheap thrills. For mature viewers, it can prompt reflection on loss, memory, and how we cope with tragedy. However, the enrichment is limited to older teens and adults who can process heavy themes without trauma.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Critically acclaimed psychological horror that prioritizes atmosphere and emotional depth over cheap jump scares
Strong performances and sophisticated storytelling that treats grief and loss with complexity
For horror fans 16+, it's a masterclass in building dread without relying on excessive gore
Prompts reflection on how we process trauma, memory, and the lengths parents go to for their children

⚠

What to Watch For

Rated R for disturbing content including mutilated bodies, a deformed child's face, and a suicide attempt
Central themes of child death and parental grief make this emotionally heavy and potentially traumatic
This is adult horror—even the 15+ recommendation from Common Sense Media feels young for most kids
The slow-burn pacing and subtitled Spanish dialogue means it's not for casual viewers looking for easy entertainment

Conversation Starters

"How does the film explore the idea of denial when facing unbearable loss?"
"What did you think about the ending—was it supernatural or psychological?"
"How does grief change the way we see reality and remember the past?"
"Why do you think horror films often use children and parenthood as sources of fear?"

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