Unhappy while directing his first Hollywood studio film, 'Mimic' (1997), writer-director Guillermo del Toro returned to his roots with 'The Devil's Backbone' (2001). This is a study of the latter film.

"The Devil's Backbone (2001) is a Gothic film written and directed by Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, 2006). The story centers on a ghost that haunts an isolated orphanage during the Spanish Civil War. Studying The Devil's Backbone explores the narrative of the film in relation to central concerns, such as genre, theme, iconography, representation, and film language. Through these elements, the volume reads the film's unique blend of literary Gothic, western, and war film and the use of bombs, ghosts, and color as visual signifiers. It critiques the central characters and compares their representation of women, monsters, and political context against an examination of mise-en-scene, sound, and special effects. In addition, the author provides a critical biography of del Toro, an analysis of his auteurist traits, and an in-depth bibliography and filmography"--Abstract

A historical coming-of-age tale set in a place where truth was stranger than fiction.In 1809, when his widowed mother decides to move him and his younger brother to the new Mississippi Territory, E.Z. Perkins is thrown into a dangerous new world. Their new home lies somewhere along the bloodiest road in American history-the Natchez Trace. Filled with cutthroat bandits, angry Indian warriors, and monstrous creatures, the road has earned the name "The Devil's Backbone." Bandits target E. Z. from the moment he begins the journey as he discovers one of their secrets. Throughout the chase, survival depends upon E. Z. learning which of his fears are real and which are imagined. Young adult historical fiction with themes of survival, adventure, and exploration.

Explore the creation of Guillermo del Toro’s early masterpiece through this visually stunning and insightful look at the spine-chilling classic. Released in 2001, Guillermo del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone announced the director as a singular talent with a unique ability to mix the macabre with the sublime. A spiritual companion piece to his Oscar-winning Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), the film shares similar themes and is also set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, a brutal conflict that turned ordinary men into monsters. Through a series of in-depth and extremely candid interviews with the director, this deluxe volume not only explores the shooting of the film but also delves into a range of other topics with del Toro, including his influences, his uniquely nuanced approach to filmmaking, and the traumatic personal events that colored the creation of The Devil’s Backbone. The book also draws on interviews with key contributors in the film’s creation, including cinematographer Guillermo Navarro and composer Javier Navarrete, to give readers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at how this gothic horror masterpiece was crafted. Featuring a wealth of exquisite concept art and rare unit photography, Guillermo del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone is the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at an unforgettable Spanish-language classic.

Cissus qradrangularis Linn, is one of the medicinally important plant belongs to the family Vitaceae. The common name of c.quadrangularis is veld grape and devil's backbone. The stem is buff-coloured with greenish tinge, stem occurs as pieces of varying length.Tendrils occasionally present at the nodes. Aerial roots develops during the rainy season. Leaves present only at the younger parts of the plant. It has been used as a medicinal plant since antiquity. It is used as a tonic, analgesic and is to help heal broken bones.