Cronos

'Cronos' is a rarity: an original, intelligent, suprising, and genuinely creepy horror movie! A wonderful unpredictable script, inventive direction from Guillermo del Toro (an impressive debut!) and uniformly strong acting from all concerned, make this essential viewing for not only horror buffs, but lovers of fantastic cinema of all types.

'Cronos' is a treasure! I cannot recommend this movie highly enough!

Mexican antique dealer Jesus Gris, finds an ornate mechanical beetle hidden in an old statuette, that once belonged to a 16th century alchemist. Unbeknownst to him, inside it there is an ancient parasite that gives the gift of immortal life. Also on trail of this device is an American millionaire who has spent his life researching the writings of this alchemist and has been searching for this mythical device, he will stop at nothing to get it. Gris stumbles onto the device and after using it, soon finds his features becoming more youthful, unfortunately the price for this is a raging bloodlust. Unique and at times surreal take of the Vampirism myth. Its also a very stylish and visually accomplished debut.

I can't think of many 90's films that will be remembered as classics of the horror genre, this film is an exception.

When you think of Mexican horror, you no doubt think of the El Santo Vs. the Aztec Mummy type films made in the 60s, don't get me wrong, I like them too. In interviews, director Guillermo Del Toro has said that his influences come more from American and British horror (such as the classic Universal and Hammer horror films) than from Mexico's horror tradition. Still, the film does have a distinctly Mexican sensibility, especially with it's abundance of Catholic imagery.

First time director Del Toro, cinematographer Guillermo Navarro (who would go on to do great work for Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, among oth ers), and production designer Tolita Figuero create a very unique, interesting look for the film.

All of the actors are great, especially veteran Argentinian actor Federico Luppi, who plays the main character Jesus Gris, and Luis Bunuel's favorite Mexican actor Claudio Brook, who plays Dieter De La Guardia. What really makes the film for me is it's quirky sense of humor and odd characterizations, I found scenes toward the middle of the film to be hilarious. The effective, subtle, score by Javier Alvarez also adds to the mood of the film.

The film also manages to be a very different kind of vampire story than usual, It makes me think a little bit of the "Wurdulak" segment of the great Mario Bava's film Black Sabbath. Vampire films of late have become very tiresome, it's nice to see someone take a different approach.

I think Guillermo Del Toro is a talent to watch for.

Severely underrated on this website, Cronos is an engaging tale that captivates the viewer for the entirety of its duration. Guillermo Del Toro's first ever film is a thoughtful, heart-wrenching story which above all manages to be fresh, intriguing and unique while managing to captivate the feel of horror films in the same mould as The Shining, whereby it is a film about family first, and a horror film second.

Cronos is most definitely not associated with the slasher end of the horror market and nor is it anywhere near the filthy attack on the sense provided by goreography. What Cronos manages to achieve is an attack on the mind and the soul, the essence of what a horror film must succeed in doing if it wishes to leave a lasting impression. Given this I can, to an extent, see where the mediocre rating has derived from, it's not a blood fest it doesn't provide a scare a second and nor does it have gratuitous scenes of eyes being gauged out by rusty pick axes, but as every true horror fan knows is these are merely sideshow attractions to the superior horror films like The Shining, like The Fog, and Cronos if not completely at the top, is very close indeed.

There are three things which notably stand out about this film and make it undoubtedly worth watching. The most subtle is the commentary on US-Mexico relations that Guillermo Del Toro has littered throughout his film. It provides an interesting portrayal into how he, and undoubtedly many Mexicans, feel about their encounters with the US, that they are always trying to be dominated and they must stand up on their own, to strive to succeed. The most obvious is that of the highly notable Christian references and intentional name play. Our protagonist, the antique dealer, is named Jesus for simple reincarnate issues, but there a great deal of "my God", "my Lord" and more comments of that ilk in the film, there is undoubtedly a side plot on the directors behalf of pointing out the good that still emanates from our protagonist. Jesus' granddaughter and wife are named Aurora and Mercedes respectively, and by knowing the meanings of their names which are "the dawn or first light" and "mercy" provides the films finale with a sense of completion. Lastly of note is the acting on the part of Federico Lupi and Tamara Shanath, who provide the necessary gravitas even in motion if not through vocals to convey the deep emotional tie between grandfather and granddaughter which when all else is removed is the main driving force of this story, and the one that will have you coming back for more. It's innocence is soul-wrenching, yet Aurora's ability to see what is happening with unclouded eyes, provides the cornerstone for the emotional drama to take hold.

One critic in 'The Daily Telegraph' claimed this to be as "scary as hell", and to be honest he is wrong. This film isn't scary in the 'popping out from behind the bushes with a meat cleaver' manner, this film is an attack of that which makes us, and indeed Jesus, human. It is a cerebral assault which plucks at your heart strings and confuses the soul, and for it is severely likable and very watchable while occasionally disconcerning. Cronos is human drama at its most wonderful, emotional and chilling and more importantly a wonderful debut by a director who will build in stature and promise greater things, but this is a debut with bite to it, and once it grabs hold of you, it's very difficult to get it off.

Cronos is director Guillermo del Toro's first feature length film, and remembered fondly as a horror classic that's a bit rough around the edges, but still contains a lot of atmosphere, creepy imagery and del Toro's signature touches. Personally I've always liked del Toro's non-horror movies better, but I cannot deny that he has a unique flair for them.

Likewise here. We have disturbing fetish pictures about bugs, we have golden clockwork machines, we have a slow descent into madness, we have masterful use of dark and shadow to create a closed, claustrophobic atmosphere and we have that distinct Latin American lean.

So what's the story? An old antique dealer, Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi), has found an ancient alchemical device that promises to give life eternal to anyone that uses its power and provides the proper sacrifices. Unfortunately other parties are also looking for the device and thus Gris has to deal with the side effects of his newly found immortality as well as trying to keep himself and his relatives safe.

Classic imagery, but del Toro's take on these old myths and ideas is refreshing and done well. You can see that the limitations of the budget are keeping him from telling the story he wants to tell, but as a whole it's not a bad tale. The various actors are also talented and really help to sell the mood to you. Luppi and Ron Perlman are the two shining stars and they'd later on go to star in many other films directed by del Toro.

Cronos is not the best horror movie I've seen, but if you've liked del Toro's later movies, it can be a rewarding experience to check out the very first one.