Every Guillermo Del Toro Movie - Ranked Worst To Best

Guillermo del Toro splashed onto the film scene with his debut film, Cronos, in 1993. Also written by del Toro who was only 29 when the film debuted, Cronos exemplifies many of the key traits that would be iconic for the director in the decades to come.

Del Toro's fascination with vampires begins in this film, and while Blade II is a bit unique among the vampire genre, Cronos stands aside on its own. The creatures of the night depicted in this film are not the traditional vampires of Anne Rice or even Joss Whedon. Were it not for moments of bloodlust and photophobia, they may be unrecognizable as vampires, a term not dwelled upon in the film. Rather, del Toro's depiction is more useful as a metaphor for the desire for one's fleeting youth, an impediment to the constant physical reminders of mortality. Like many of his films, a wealthy and powerful man abuses his status in order to gain the titular device to spare him from his failing body.

While an imperfect film, Cronos is nonetheless a fascinating entry into the horror landscape of film, a beautifully photographed cerebral thriller. With 25 years worth of cinema now in the rearview, looking back at Cronos is an essential component of understanding del Toro's roots, filmic style, and thematic preoccupations.