Frightful First Films! CRONOS (1992)
Presented by Eric Ford
Though just 29 when this debut feature arrived, Guillermo Del Toro’s talent was already evident. A stylish, gory and surprisingly touching story about family and bloodlust, Cronos delivers the goods in a big way, harking back to the Hammer horror films of old, while foregrounding Del Toro’s own stylish, wholly contemporary approach.
Says series host Eric Ford: “Guillermo del Toro’s first film breathes fresh air into the vampire genre, even though it’s over 30 years old. It’s a surprisingly touching family-centered story, and criminally underrated.”
Del Toro called the film, “An exploded version of my brain.” The plot centers around a scarab, an incredibly sophisticated device built by a Mexican alchemist during the Inquisition. The device grants eternal life, but, of course, it comes with a price. In this case, insatiable bloodlust. Nothing’s free. In the present day, one man has found the device – he’s the one licking blood off the floor – while another man really wants it. Something’s gotta give.
The movie overflows with wit, style, blood and heart. It also kickstarts two of Del Toro’s ongoing creative relationships, as both Federico Lippi and Ron Perleman would go on to make several films with Del Toro.
And from these modest yet audacious beginnings, Del Toro’s done alright, releasing such fabulous films as Pan’s Labyrinth and The Devil’s Backbone, and even winning a Best Director Oscar for The Shape of Water.