Excellent 'Orphanage' creates creepy sense of dread

"The Orphanage" -- While I'm not opposed to a good old-fashioned splatterfest every once in a while, the horror flicks I like best rely more on atmosphere than gore. "The Orphanage," a new ghost story from Spain, is a great example. Director Juan Antonio Bayona establishes a feeling of cold dread in the very first frames of the movie, which opens with shots of children at an orphanage on the Spanish coast, playing a game of tag. Through the deft use of lighting, camera angles and music, Bayona takes a sweet scene and makes it scary, the same way Stanley Kubrick made a drive through the mountains on a beautiful day seem scary in the opening minutes of "The Shining."

We learn that Laura, one of the kids at the orphanage, will soon be adopted. The story then jumps forward about 30 years to the point when Laura, now married with a son, moves back to the orphanage with plans to convert it into a school for disabled children. Right away, strange things happen. Laura's son, Simon, develops an uncomfortably close relationship with new friends no one else can see. A strange old woman appears at the door, claiming to be a social worker and asking personal questions about Simon. Then Simon disappears at a grand-opening party for the school. Laura's desperate effort to find her son becomes a horrifying journey into the orphanage's past.

"The Orphanage" borrows liberally from other ghost-story films -- the aforementioned "Shining" is a clear influence -- but it's no retread. Bayona expertly balances genuinely terrifying moments with an emotional, human story that builds to a surprisingly touching climax. I can't wait to watch this one again. The DVD comes with a nice set of bonus features, including cast rehearsal footage, a making-of doc and, thankfully, theatrical trailers. (R; New Line, $27.95)

"The Savages" -- Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman play Wendy and Jon Savage, the children of an old man suffering from dementia, in this excellent comedy-drama. The siblings, each of whom bears the psychological scars of life with a father who was neglectful at best and abusive at worst, must overcome their own demons as they try to do right by a man who never showed them the same consideration. Writer-director Tamara Jenkins doesn't shy away from the bleaker aspects of old age, but an often hilarious script and a hopeful ending balance out the darker moments. Linney, a Best Actress nominee, and Hoffman are superb, but I have to give special props to character actor Philip Bosco, who shines as the bitter father. The DVD includes a making-of featurette and extended scenes. (R; Fox, $27.98)

"Charlie Wilson's War" -- And now, the second Philip Seymour Hoffman movie arriving on DVD today. "Charlie Wilson's War" is a breezy, sharp political comedy based on the true story of a little-regarded Texas congressman who launched a covert war that enabled Afghanistan to fend off a Soviet invasion in the 1980s. Tom Hanks plays the hard-drinking, womanizing (and smart) Wilson, and Hoffman delivers an Oscar-nominated performance as CIA agent Gust Avrakotos, who helped Wilson supply weapons to the Afghan freedom fighters. It's a pleasure to watch these actors exchange Aaron Sorkin's witty dialogue. The only weak spot in the film is Julia Roberts' preening performance as a right-wing Texas socialite who prods Wilson to take up the Afghan cause. This is not a heavy-handed war movie, but a funny and entertaining look at congressional politics. The DVD includes interviews with the cast, filmmakers and the real Charlie Wilson. (R; Universal, $29.98)

"Cloverfield" -- "Cloverfield" is 10 times more successful as a marketing feat than it is as a film. The movie whipped film and TV nerds (it was produced by J.J. Abrams, creator of TV's "Lost") into a frenzy with a stealthy advertising campaign that included an eerie trailer and a slew of promotional Web sites. The result was the biggest January opening for a film, ever. Unfortunately, the movie is pretty lame. The plot: A Godzilla-like monster attacks Manhattan, ripping the head off the Statue of Liberty and sending a group of obnoxious twentysomethings, who all looked like they stepped out of a J. Crew catalog, running for safety. The "Blair Witch"-style camerawork allows for some uniquely raw and scary moments, but the cliche-ridden story and whiny characters sink the movie. The DVD has a decent set of extras, but surprisingly, none of them focus on the movie's unusual marketing scheme. (PG-13; Paramount, $29.99)