About this episode
Clay and Amanda explore Guillermo del Toro’s The Devil's Backbone, discussing its themes of memory, loss, and the impact of violence during the Spanish Civil War.
This week on The Rotten Horror Picture Show Podcast , Clay and Amanda travel into the haunting, melancholic world of Guillermo del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone . Set during the final days of the Spanish Civil War, the film blends ghost story, historical tragedy, and gothic atmosphere into one of del Toro’s most emotionally powerful works. Clay and Amanda explore the film’s themes of memory, loss, and the lingering scars of violence, as well as its unforgettable imagery—from the lonely orphanage to the pale, sorrowful ghost of Santi drifting through dark hallways. It’s a beautiful, eerie meditation on how the past refuses to stay buried, and why del Toro remains one of horror’s most compassionate storytellers. Which, frankly, is a perfect topic for how I’m feeling right now—because something tragic has happened here as well. I arrived late to what was supposed to be a lovely gathering. There was talk of paella. Real paella. Rice, saffron, seafood, maybe a little chorizo—warm, fragrant, glorious. A communal dish meant to be shared. I could practically taste it. But when I got here? Gone. Completely gone. Vanished like a ghost in an old Spanish orphanage. What remains in the bowl…
People in this episode
Hosts: Clay, Amanda
Topics covered
- ghost story
- historical tragedy
- gothic atmosphere
- memory
- loss
- violence
- emotional storytelling
Keywords
- The Devil's Backbone
- Guillermo del Toro
- ghost story
- Spanish Civil War
- horror
- film review
- emotional themes
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Devil's Backbone
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