‘Cronos’ Blu-ray Review (BFI)

Stars: Federico Luppi, Claudio Brook, Ron Perlman, Tamara Shanath, Margarita Isabel, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Farnesio de Bernal | Written and Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro’s Cronos is a striking debut that foreshadows the filmmaker’s signature blend of horror, fantasy, and emotional depth. Though often overlooked in favour of his later works like Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) or The Shape of Water (2017), Cronos is a vital piece of his filmography, demonstrating his fascination with monsters, morality, and the intersection of beauty and decay.

At its core, Cronos is a vampire film, but unlike conventional entries in the genre, it eschews many of the traditional tropes. The film tells the story of Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi), an elderly antique dealer who stumbles upon a mysterious golden device hidden inside an ancient statue. This device—the Cronos mechanism—contains an insect-like creature that grants its user eternal youth but at a terrible cost. As Jesús begins to experience the transformative effects of the device, he finds himself pursued by the dying industrialist Dieter de la Guardia (Claudio Brook) and his brutish nephew Ángel (Ron Perlman), both of whom seek the artefact for their own gain.

What makes Cronos so compelling is its melancholic take on immortality. Unlike the glamorous vampires of Hollywood lore, Jesús’ transformation is both painful and tragic. His newfound vitality comes at the cost of his humanity—he develops a thirst for blood, his skin grows increasingly pale and corpse-like, and he begins to lose control of himself. Unlike many horror protagonists who succumb to their monstrous nature, Jesús retains his decency, with his bond to his granddaughter Aurora (Tamara Shanath) serving as an emotional anchor. This fatherly relationship adds a layer of poignancy, making his struggle all the more affecting.

Del Toro’s visual storytelling is already in full force in this debut. The film’s production design is rich with gothic influences, from the alchemical engravings on the Cronos device to the decaying opulence of De la Guardia’s sterile, tomb-like headquarters. Cinematographer Guillermo Navarro, who would go on to collaborate with del Toro on multiple films, gives Cronos a dreamlike quality, with moody lighting and a warm yet eerie colour palette. The film’s practical effects, particularly the grotesque wounds and the unsettling way Jesús’ body changes, are understated but effective, proving del Toro’s knack for merging horror with emotional depth.

Ron Perlman, in one of his earliest collaborations with del Toro, is a standout as Ángel. His performance blends menace with humour, making him a memorably unconventional antagonist. Perlman’s dry wit and exasperation with his overbearing uncle provide moments of dark comedy that offset the film’s sombre tone.

Though Cronos is a slow-burn horror film, it remains gripping due to its emotional stakes. Its themes—mortality, the price of eternal life, and the resilience of human bonds—would resurface in del Toro’s later films, making this debut a fascinating glimpse into the filmmaker’s evolving vision.

For fans of del Toro, Cronos is essential viewing. It is a beautifully crafted, intimate horror tale that challenges vampire mythology while laying the foundation for one of modern cinema’s most imaginative storytellers – and it’s never looked or sounded better than in this new BFI release!

Special Features:

• Newly recorded audio commentary by Jason Wood
• Audio commentary with Guillermo del Toro (2002)
• Audio commentary with producers Arthur H Gorson and Bertha Navarro and co-producer Alejandro Springall (in English and Spanish with optional English subtitles)
• Optional original Spanish-language voice-over introduction
• Cronos – An Introduction (2024, 34 mins): director Guillermo del Toro in conversation with the former head of the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes film festival and current managing director of Arte France Cinéma, Olivier Père (2024, 34 mins)
• Geometria (1987, revised 2010, 7 mins): a short film by Guillermo del Toro about a young man who pays dearly to have his dreams come true
• Guillermo del Toro on Geometria (7 mins): a short interview with the director about Geometria
• BFI Screen Talk: Guillermo del Toro (2017, 74 mins): filmed around the release of The Shape of Water, the writer and director discusses his career with journalist, author and screenwriter Mark Salisbury and the BFI London Film Festival
• Making of Cronos with Federico Luppi (2006, 5 mins): a short archival interview with the actor
• Interview with the director (2010, 60 mins): an archival interview with Guillermo del Toro
• Interview with Guillermo del Toro (2010, 18 mins): an interview with the writer and director
• Interview with Guillermo Navarro (2010, 13 mins): an interview with the film’s cinematographer
• Interview with Ron Perlman (2010, 7 mins): an interview with the actor who since Cronos has gone on to become one of Del Toro’s regular collaborators
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery
• 60-page book featuring new essays by Michelle Kisner, Rich Johnson, Barry Forshaw, and Michael Leader. Also includes and edited version of ‘Guillermo del Toro: The origins of horror and Cronos’, an interview that originally appeared in The Faber Book of Mexican Cinema, by Jason Wood and an original Sight & Sound review by John Kraniauskas
• A set of four postcards featuring images from the film
• Fold-out poster featuring the new artwork by Clément Deneu

Cronos will be released on Blu-ray and 4K UHD, courtesy of the BFI, on February 24th.