Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Don’t let the words fairy tale fool anyone: Pan’s Labyrinth spends more time with soldiers than with fauns, and its villain has no cracks in him at all. Sergi López plays Captain Vidal as a man who fusses over his pocket watch and his boots and shows zero mercy, more storm than person. It’s a small complaint. Guillermo del Toro sets the story in 1944 Spain and lets the real cruelty and the magic seep into each other until you can’t tell which one is scarier. Ivana Baquero’s Ofelia is brave in the quiet way kids are brave. Doug Jones plays the Faun creaking like an old tree that learned to talk, then returns as the Pale Man, who keeps his eyes in his hands and guards a feast you should never touch. Maribel Verdú’s Mercedes is the real hero of the house. Metacritic has it at 98, and that feels right. A 9.5 because it’s beautiful, terrifying and means every frame. $1,621 says you leave a bowl of grapes alone for at least a week after this.

What works: Del Toro’s gorgeous creature design, Doug Jones in two unforgettable roles, and Ivana Baquero’s brave, grounded Ofelia.

What doesn’t: Captain Vidal is cruelty with no shading at all, so the real-world half can feel blunter than the fantasy half.

Who it’s for: Grown-up fantasy fans who like their fairy tales dark, sad and full of meaning. Not for little kids.