The Devil's Backbone (2001)
El espinazo del diablo
Fantasy, Drama, Horror, Thriller • 1h 48m
Overview
Spain, 1939. In the last days of the Spanish Civil War, the young Carlos arrives at the Santa Lucía orphanage, where he will make friends and enemies as he follows the quiet footsteps of a mysterious presence eager for revenge.
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Currently streaming on Netflix
Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for October 2026 release
Currently streaming on Netflix
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Currently streaming on Netflix
Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for October 2026 release
Currently streaming on Netflix
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray and 2011/2013 Optimum Blu-ray both have issues, up to preference. UK Optimum/Japan Amuse Soft Blu-ray is better, Criterion is worse
Japan Amuse Soft Blu-ray is better encoded than the Optimum, is in the original 1.85 ratio, and has the original colors
New 4K restoration sourced from the original camera negatives to be shown in theatres in October
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray and 2011/2013 Optimum Blu-ray both have issues, up to preference. UK Optimum/Japan Amuse Soft Blu-ray is better, Criterion is worse
Japan Amuse Soft Blu-ray is better encoded than the Optimum, is in the original 1.85 ratio, and has the original colors
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray and 2011/2013 Optimum Blu-ray both have issues, up to preference. UK Optimum/Japan Amuse Soft Blu-ray is better, Criterion is worse
Japan Amuse Soft Blu-ray is better encoded than the Optimum, is in the original 1.85 ratio, and has the original colors
New 4K restoration sourced from the original camera negatives to be shown in theatres in October
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray and 2011/2013 Optimum Blu-ray both have issues, up to preference. UK Optimum/Japan Amuse Soft Blu-ray is better, Criterion is worse
Japan Amuse Soft Blu-ray is better encoded than the Optimum, is in the original 1.85 ratio, and has the original colors
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray, but has AI upscaling on opticals, see caps
Kino Lorber has 5.1, Lionsgate Blu-ray has 7.1, don't know which sounds better and closest to the theatrical mix.
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray, but has AI upscaling on opticals, see caps
Kino Lorber has 5.1, Lionsgate Blu-ray has 7.1, don't know which sounds better and closest to the theatrical mix.
Director: Guillermo del Toro
The DTS-HD 5.1 on the 4K Blu-ray. The Atmos is compressed. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=22426684&postcount=840
The Director's Cut DVD has some exclusive features like an isolated score track.
Director: Guillermo del Toro
The DTS-HD 5.1 on the 4K Blu-ray. The Atmos is compressed. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=22426684&postcount=840
The Director's Cut DVD has some exclusive features like an isolated score track.
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Criterion 4K Blu-ray with B&W Extended Director's Cut and Theatrical Cut see Chris's review
Disney 4K Blu-ray has a slightly better Atmos track for the Theatrical Cut
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Criterion 4K Blu-ray with B&W Extended Director's Cut and Theatrical Cut see Chris's review
Disney 4K Blu-ray has a slightly better Atmos track for the Theatrical Cut
4K Blu-ray is missing the bonus DVD found on the 2 disc Blu-ray
4K Blu-ray is missing the bonus DVD found on the 2 disc Blu-ray
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Director: Guillermo del Toro
WB 4K Blu-ray (caveat: missing bonus disc from previous Blu-ray)
4K Blu-ray is missing extras. Japan Amazon exclusive Steelbook has the missing extras as well as Target and Walmart exclusive extras
Director: Guillermo del Toro
WB 4K Blu-ray (caveat: missing bonus disc from previous Blu-ray)
4K Blu-ray is missing extras. Japan Amazon exclusive Steelbook has the missing extras as well as Target and Walmart exclusive extras
Fox 4K Blu-ray has a less band filtered DTS-HD 5.1 track than the Criterion
Fox 4K Blu-ray has a less band filtered DTS-HD 5.1 track than the Criterion
Director: Danny Boyle
Director: Danny Boyle
Director: Danny Boyle
Sony 4K Blu-ray see caps
Recovers quite a bit of highlight detail, looks less harsh and clipped in the video footage than the old BD.
Director: Danny Boyle
Sony 4K Blu-ray see caps
Recovers quite a bit of highlight detail, looks less harsh and clipped in the video footage than the old BD.
Director: Jim Henson
Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray
Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray, Shout! Factory doesn't have the low-pass filter that's on the Sony US 4K Blu-ray from 2021 with Dolby Vision (or the worse HDR10 only release from 2016). Shout! Factory retains more high-frequency grain and detail.
Embassy Home Entertainment JPN LaserDisc or 1999 Sony US DVD 2.0
Director: Jim Henson
Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray
Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray, Shout! Factory doesn't have the low-pass filter that's on the Sony US 4K Blu-ray from 2021 with Dolby Vision (or the worse HDR10 only release from 2016). Shout! Factory retains more high-frequency grain and detail.
Embassy Home Entertainment JPN LaserDisc or 1999 Sony US DVD 2.0
Director: Sofia Coppola
Director: Sofia Coppola
Director: Michael Arias
Director: Michael Arias
Director: McG
The UK cinema version is the most complete version of the film to date, featuring additional scenes of violence. Additional footage includes:
louder impact sounds during the fight scenes with added bass, particularly during the alley fight (the impact sounds are much tamer on all video and DVD releases)
the use of nunchaku during the closing fight on the castle (the fight sequence now has no footage of nunchaku)
an elbow-lock move performed during the above fight (this is now cut from all versions) It is assumed that this version is the cut of the film made before trims were made to it for the MPAA to secure a PG-13 rating.
The UK theatrical cut has not been released on home video to date.
Director: McG
The UK cinema version is the most complete version of the film to date, featuring additional scenes of violence. Additional footage includes:
louder impact sounds during the fight scenes with added bass, particularly during the alley fight (the impact sounds are much tamer on all video and DVD releases)
the use of nunchaku during the closing fight on the castle (the fight sequence now has no footage of nunchaku)
an elbow-lock move performed during the above fight (this is now cut from all versions) It is assumed that this version is the cut of the film made before trims were made to it for the MPAA to secure a PG-13 rating.
The UK theatrical cut has not been released on home video to date.
More Fantasy on Blu-ray
Directors: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
Universal 25th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray with Dolby Vision and Atmos
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray
Directors: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
Universal 25th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray with Dolby Vision and Atmos
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Director: Ingmar Bergman
3D: 2011 Fox 3D Blu-ray (exclusive with Sony 3D TV bundles in the US)
3D: 2011 Fox 3D Blu-ray
All home video releases are open matte 16:9. No home release in the theatrical scope presentation.
The original theatrical 7.1 mix has not been given a home release.
3D: 2011 Fox 3D Blu-ray (exclusive with Sony 3D TV bundles in the US)
3D: 2011 Fox 3D Blu-ray
All home video releases are open matte 16:9. No home release in the theatrical scope presentation.
The original theatrical 7.1 mix has not been given a home release.
Director: Henry Selick
2D Version: Laika/Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
3D Version: 2011 3D Blu-ray
2D Version: Laika/Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
3D Version: 2011 3D Blu-ray caps
Director: Henry Selick
2D Version: Laika/Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
3D Version: 2011 3D Blu-ray
2D Version: Laika/Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
3D Version: 2011 3D Blu-ray caps
US Toy Robot and UK 88 Films 4K Blu-ray
US Toy Robot and UK 88 Films 4K Blu-ray
Director: Simon McQuoid
Director: Simon McQuoid
Director: Simon McQuoid
Director: Simon McQuoid
Edit History
Made with ❤️ 📀 by vanshady