The Devil's Backbone
8.2/10
jumps
6
gore
4
dread
6
Tap a dot to add your rating.
Where to watch: Not on major US streamers — check digital rental.
How it scared people
The vibe
An orphanage in the last days of the Spanish Civil War keeps an unexploded bomb in its courtyard and a sighing boy in its cellar. Del Toro's ghost is a wound, not a weapon — the real monsters carry rifles. His most emotionally complete horror film.
The Devil's Backbone (2001) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | No MPAA certificate (released outside the US system) |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 106 minutes |
| Jump scares | 3/5 — moderately scary, with a handful of strong sequences |
| Gore | 2/5 — only light gore |
| Dread | 3/5 — a lingering atmosphere that stays for the evening |
| Themes | death and grief, often within a family |
The Devil's Backbone carries no MPAA certificate. We score it 3/5 for jump scares, 2/5 for gore and 3/5 for lingering dread, over 106 minutes. Better suited to teens than to younger children.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is The Devil's Backbone?
- On our intensity scale, The Devil's Backbone rates 6/10 for jump scares and 6/10 for dread. It is moderately scary, with a handful of strong sequences.
- How gory is The Devil's Backbone?
- The Devil's Backbone rates 4/10 for gore — expect only light gore.
- How long is The Devil's Backbone?
- The Devil's Backbone runs 106 minutes (1h 46m).
- What is The Devil's Backbone rated?
- The Devil's Backbone has no MPAA certificate — common for films released outside the US. On our scale it rates 6/10 for jump scares, 4/10 for gore and 6/10 for dread.
- Where to watch The Devil's Backbone (2001)?
- The Devil's Backbone is not on major US subscription streamers right now — look for it on digital rental or purchase (Apple TV, Prime Video, or your usual store).
