If you loved
The Devil's Backbone
Guillermo del Toro · Film · 2001
What hooked you in The Devil's Backbone was the way childhood innocence is fractured by the haunting presence of historical trauma.
Books on the same thread
The Shadow of the Wind (La sombra del viento)
Carlos Ruiz Zafón · Book · 2001
Like The Devil's Backbone, this story captures the lingering shadow of the Spanish Civil War, blending historical atmosphere with a young boy's journey through a landscape defined by loss.
Raven's Gate
Anthony Horowitz · Book · 2006
If you appreciated the focus on a vulnerable boy navigating a hostile environment in The Devil's Backbone, you will recognize that same sense of isolation and creeping supernatural dread here.
The Gunslinger
Stephen King · Book · 2003
The Devil's Backbone uses a desolate setting to explore moral ambiguity, a theme that mirrors the dreamlike, obsessive quest for redemption found in the harsh world of the gunslinger.
Redwall
Brian Jacques · Book · 1986
While lighter in tone, the struggle for survival against encroaching evil in this tale echoes the protective bonds formed between young characters facing overwhelming threats in The Devil's Backbone.
Series on the same thread
IT: Welcome to Derry
Andy Muschietti · Series · 2025
The Devil's Backbone excels at showing children confronting ancient secrets; this series provides a similar experience, centering on a group of friends unraveling a terrifying mystery within their community.
His Dark Materials
Jack Thorne · Series · 2019
Much like the orphan Carlos in The Devil's Backbone, Lyra navigates a world where sinister conspiracies and dark mysteries threaten her safety, forcing her to rely on her own ingenuity.
Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas
Series · 2009
The bond between orphans separated by war in this series captures the same poignant sense of loyalty and sacrifice that defines the emotional core of The Devil's Backbone.
Gachiakuta
Series · 2025
If the themes of wrongful accusation and revenge in The Devil's Backbone resonated with you, this story offers a similar path for an orphan seeking justice against a corrupt world.
Podcasts on the same thread
Unexplained
iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
This podcast explores the same uncanny, liminal spaces that make The Devil's Backbone so unsettling, proving that the most haunting stories are often those that linger in the historical shadows.
Monsters Among Us
Derek Hayes | Audioboom Studios · Podcast · 2026
The atmospheric horror and sense of the unexplained found in these testimonies mirror the eerie, ghost-driven tension that makes The Devil's Backbone such a memorable and haunting cinematic experience.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Devil's Backbone set during a real historical conflict?
Yes, The Devil's Backbone is set in 1939 during the final days of the Spanish Civil War. The plot follows a young boy named Carlos who arrives at an orphanage in Spain as the war concludes and he encounters a mysterious presence.
Where does The Devil's Backbone take place?
The Devil's Backbone takes place at the Santa Lucía orphanage in Spain. The story unfolds in 1939 as the Spanish Civil War is ending, providing a backdrop for the experiences of the young protagonist Carlos and the supernatural events he encounters at the facility.
Who directed The Devil's Backbone?
The Devil's Backbone was directed by Guillermo del Toro and released in 2001. The film centers on a boy named Carlos who arrives at the Santa Lucía orphanage in Spain during the last days of the Spanish Civil War to face a mysterious presence.
What is the primary setting of The Devil's Backbone?
The primary setting of The Devil's Backbone is the Santa Lucía orphanage in Spain. The narrative takes place in 1939, during the final days of the Spanish Civil War, where a young boy named Carlos navigates relationships with his peers while dealing with a vengeful spirit.