9. Jesus Gris (Federico Luppi) - Cronos
Guillermo del Toro's glorious beginning is a compelling horror movie and a fascinating variant of the vampire tale. No fangs. And no sparkling... This is the story of Jesus Gris (Federico Luppi), a mild-mannered elderly antique dealer who takes tender care of his young mute granddaughter Aurora. One day, he stumbles upon a mysterious golden egg-shaped artifact - the Cronos. A device actually forged by an alchemist centuries ago. The legend says that an insect locked inside the Cronos would grant eternal life to its bearer in exchange for their blood. This is without a doubt a bargain some people would kill for - literally - as the movie will show in a series of dark twists and turns. At first, the kindhearted old man accepts the offer with great relish, blessed by this sudden second youth, and doesn't mind feeding the creature with his own blood. He feels as virile as ever and praises the device that has reignited the fire in his love life. But the Cronos has a life of its own and by sucking Jesus's blood, the insect insidiously absorbs his life as well€ Soon, Jesus is torn apart by his dependence on the devilish instrument and ironically develops a craving for blood himself. Given that he also suffers from other unwanted vampiric side effects, such as physical decaying and aversion to sunlight, he isolates himself from the rest of the world, living as an outcast. At this moment, he can only rely on his granddaughter to protect him. She may not be the talkative type but she watches everything and is wise beyond her years. The sweet but uncanny relationship between this deceptively innocent girl and her cursed grandfather really stands at the heart of this twisted thriller. While Del Toro makes good use of Gothic imagery and a surreal atmosphere, Frederico Luppi delivers a bold performance as the reluctant vampire. This amiable grandpa licking spilled blood off the floor in a public restroom is a vision that will haunt you for days.