"The Devil's Backbone"

Early in the film, we learn that Carlos is reading which well-known and symbolically significant book?

"The Count of Monte Cristo"

How long did it take del Toro to complete this project?

14 years

Explain how the bomb in the center of the courtyard functions as a symbol.

Bomb represents Jacinto(he's waiting to go off) and a baby in a jar

What was the inspiration for the character of Jaime?

Carlos Gimenez

Who unlocks the storage room and allows the boys to escape?

Dr. Casares

How does del Toro help viewers create connections between similar characters?

Good guy's names start with C and the bad guy's names start with j

Explain del Toro's approach to violence. Why does he incorporate this type of violence into his stories?

He wants the audience to feel it. Makes the story seem more real

What does the fact that Dr. Casares drinks the rum from the jar containing the fetus tell us?

He's impotent

Why was it important that Jacinto look the way he does?

He's non-threatening on the outside and dangerous on the inside

In the commentary regarding the making of this film, del Toro talks about how it was important to frame certain characaters how?

In arches, made them seem trapped

When did del Toro start to work on this film?

In college, it was supposed to be his film school thesis

What do we learn from the fact that Carlos is reading The Count of Monte Cristo? What trope is this?

Means revenge

This film is intended to be the "masculine brother film" to which of del Toro's other films?

Pan's Labyrinth

Where does this story take place?

Spain, 1939, beginning of the Spanish Civil War, orphanage

The two main characters later make an appearance in what other del Toro film?

The Pan's Labyrinth

The final shot of "The Devil's Backbone" is an homage to what movie?

The Settlers

What are the basic elements of gothic romance?

action is linked to a place and the place becomes a symbol, place has a deep, dark secret that affects the present, twisted romance, and hero/heroine are pure and unravel the mystery

List examples of reflected images/scenes/ concepts from the fim.

arch means baby in the jar, jacinto symbolizes the bomb, mirror shots of the kids and the ghost

What were the sources of inspiration for this film?

del Toro's personal memories, especially his relationship with his Uncle who came back as a ghost

Del Toro argues that fairy tales, which have long fascinated him, eventually evolved into which other genre?

gothic romance

A similar bottle containing a baby with "the devil's spine" can be seen next to the blade that pierced Christ's side can be seen in which other del Toro film?

hellboy

Why does Santi's blood float up into the air?

hit in the head/ he's underwater

Oscars?

no nominations or wins

The film's title refrences which real-life disorder?

spina bifoda

What was the purpose of Gothic architecture, the principles of which can be seen, in some sense, reflected in the film?

to make the characters seem/ feel small and insignificant

What was the inspiration for the ghost?

white-faced spiritsof Japanese horror films like Ringo