A wickedly wonderful mix of fantasy, horror and drama.

Byline: Daniel M. Kimmel

COLUMN: MOVIE REVIEW

As "Pan's Labyrinth" was racking up critics awards (including the Boston Society of Film Critics, which named it Best Foreign Language Film of 2006), moviegoers were wondering when they were finally going to get to see it. The wait is finally over. Guillermo Del Toro's fantasy film is every bit as good as the claims, and one of the best films of the year.

Although it's a fantasy seen through the eyes of a young girl, this is decidedly not children's fare, and parents who might think otherwise are advised to see the film first before making any rash decision. Set in Fascist Spain, it features some scenes of violence and horror that will be too intense for children.

The story concerns Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) who is traveling with her widowed mother, Carmen (Ariadne Gil), to be with her new stepfather, a cruel fascist officer named Vidal (Sergi Lopez). Vidal has little use for Ofelia, and really only tolerates Carmen because she's carrying his child. So Ofelia escapes into a rich fantasy world that seems to co-exist with ours. Del Toro doesn't give us an out that it's all a dream. Things that happen on one side impact the other.

Ofelia encounters Pan (Doug Jones), the half-man, half-goat creature of mythology, who tells her she has an important role. She is really a princess of a magical realm beneath the earth, but in order to make her way back and be reunited with her true family, she must accomplish three fantastic tasks. These sequences are visually astonishing, as might be expected from a director whose credits include "Hellboy" and "Blade II" along with arthouse fare like "The Devil's Backbone."

The story has the classic structure of a fairy tale, but the real world keeps intruding. Carmen takes sick in the real world, but it is remedy provided by Pan that seems to alleviate her suffering. As horrific as some of the fantasy sequences are (the creature with the eyes in his hands has to be seen to be believed), the real world is even scarier, as in a scene where Vidal cold-bloodedly murders two peasants. Del Toro knows exactly what he's doing here. Vidal is more fearsome than any fairy tale monster.

Baquero is perfect as the plucky heroine, trying to live up to the requirements of her tasks but still immature enough to break the rules Ofelia has been given. Lopez turns in a great performance as the villain, allowing a bit of the character's humanity to emerge without in anyway softening him. As for Doug Jones, it's hard to say how much is special effects makeup and CGI and how much is him, but Pan is one of the truly original screen creations you're likely to see.

Mexican filmmakers are having a good year, in whatever language they film. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu directed "Babel" and Alfonso Cuaron directed "Children of Men." However with "Pan's Labyrinth," Del Toro may have topped them all.

`Pan's Labyrinth'

* * * *

A Picturehouse Entertainment release

Rating: R for graphic violence and some language

Running time: 1 hour, 52 minutes

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Ivana Baquero and Doug Jones in a scene from the film "Pan's Labyrinth."