About this episode
In Episode 13 of Scream Creeps, Jeremy, Josh, and Elaine tackle #29 on the "Top 35 Scariest Movies According to Science" list: the 2007 Spanish horror film The Orphanage (El Orfanato), produced by Guillermo del Toro. While the movie is widely praised for its emotional depth and storytelling, the crew debates whether it truly belongs on a list of the scariest movies ever made.The hosts are unanimous in their appreciation for the film's quality, highlighting its heartbreaking plot and the chilling "One, Two, Three, Knock on the Wall" game scene. However, they struggle to classify it as a true horror film, leaning more towards a supernatural tragedy or thriller. They discuss the devastating twist ending involving the fate of the missing son, Simon, and the eerie presence of the masked boy, Tomas. The episode also touches on the effectiveness of subtitles versus dubbing and the film's atmospheric tension over cheap jump scares.Key Highlights [00:46] Science of Scare #29: The hosts introduce The Orphanage as the 29th scariest movie according to scientific heart rate studies. [02:40] Is It Scary?: A recurring theme in the review—while the movie is excellent, the crew questions if it's "scary" enough for its ranking, noting it feels more like a tragic drama with ghosts. [05:20] The Game Scene: The group discusses the intense "One, Two, Three, Knock on the Wall" scene, which stands out as one of the few genuinely creepy moments. [08:15] The Twist Ending: A breakdown of the heartbreaking reveal that Laura accidentally caused Simon's death, locking him in the basement where he fell and died. [12:30] Guillermo del Toro's Influence: The hosts note the producer's signature style in the film's fairy-tale-like atmosphere and emotional storytelling. [27:00] Creepo-Meter Ratings: The scores reflect the film's quality but lack of terror. Jeremy gives it a 2, while Josh and Elaine rate it similarly low on the "scare" scale, though all agree it's a must-watch film.
