10 Underrated Ghost Story Movies You Need To See

There are no two things creepier in horror cinema than ghosts or children. The Orphanage, the debut film from J.A. Bayona, combines both genre staples to intoxicatingly sinister effect.

The plot of this Spanish-language outing follows Laura (Belén Rueda) who, alongside her husband (Fernando Cayo) and adopted son Simón (Roger Príncep), lives at the orphanage she stayed at as a child. The plan is to renovate the building to turn it into a home for disabled children. However, events take a dark turn when the youngster mysteriously vanishes.

After turning to a psychic for help, Laura comes to realise the devastating truth that her son has been taken by the ghosts of young children who roam the hallways unseen. In her plight to reclaim her child, Laura eventually uncovers a disturbing mystery surrounding the orphanage’s history, all of which seems to revolve around the spirit of a mask-wearing boy named Tomás.

Enveloped within a traditional gothic setting, the scares in The Orphanage are effectively understated in their execution. Still, it’s the constant reminder of how vulnerable the children are in this film where both the horror and heart of the script lies, ending proceedings on a surprisingly bittersweet note viewers won't forget.