PAN’S LABYRINTH

October 11 marked the 20th anniversary of PAN’S LABYRINTH’s theatrical release, and to celebrate, Fathom Entertainment re-released a 4K version in theaters across the United States. I had no choice but to hop on the 1 and make my way to the AMC Empire in Times Square to witness this masterpiece on the big screen.

I have watched PAN’S LABYRINTH three times now: the first in my senior year of high school, on my living room television, and the second in my senior year of college, on a projector in my Spanish Literature class.

[I analyzed the symbolism of PAN’S LABYRINTH for this class; if you’re interested in reading the essay, check it out here. Disclaimer: it is entirely in Spanish and contains spoilers. Do with that what you will. End of aside.]

For my third time, I challenged myself to find a flaw, any flaw, in the film. I failed. All I found were more details to appreciate.

PAN’S LABYRINTH is visually and emotionally stunning. The story is expertly crafted, threading together history, coming-of-age, and horror-fantasy. The creature design, which Guillermo del Toro has earned a reputation for, is terrifying and beautiful. And it is thrilling. Despite knowing how every scene ended, I couldn’t help but clutch the armrest and try to steady my pulse.

I would recommend this film for high school English and history classes alike, a testament to how well it presents historical events through an artistic lens. When faced with the question “What piece of literature today will be a classic in a hundred years?” my answer is always this one. It blends history and imagination to create a new type of fairytale. It is singular in that I have never seen a film quite like this one, and I doubt I ever will.

Yes, it is horrifying. But it is also informative, mesmerizing, and heartbreaking.

If you haven’t watched PAN’S LABYRINTH before, go watch it now. If you have already watched it, go watch it again.