Watch Cronos

"Cronos" is a 1992 dark fiction-horror film directed by the Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. This is his first feature film, where he displays a storytelling and visual language that he would later develop into a masterful career. The film is centered around immortality and how the search for it can ultimately bring both knowledge and catastrophe.

The story follows Jesus Gris (played by Federico Luppi), an old antiques dealer who discovers a strange golden device inside an archaic statue of an angel. Unknowingly, the device becomes fixed onto his skin and provides him newfound youth and strength. However, this "cure" comes at a price as the device's creator, the wealthy and ruthless businessman De La Guardia (played by Claudio Brook), and his henchman Angel (played by Ron Perlman), are willing to commit severe acts of violence to obtain it.

As Gris attempts to unveil the secrets behind the device, he discovers the entity hides dark interests following its creation. The story becomes a struggle between life and immortality and raises ideas of faith, temptation, and the search for traditional values. The film presents its viewer with multiple interpretations of the device's meaning, adding an intellectual element to its horror parts.

Del Toro's visual style is present throughout the film, with his blend of supernatural elements and grotesque imagery becoming apparent. The director uses eerie tones of green and orange lighting and obscure camera angles to capture the macabre environment of the film's setting in Mexico City. There are several fantasy sequences throughout the movie where Gris dreams of pre-hispanic times, juxtaposed by the modern-day realities. The film's use of shadows is also an homage to iconic horror films, such as Nosferatu, released in 1922.

The acting is superb, with Federico Luppi displaying the range of his talent, as his character transforms from a weak, elderly man to a more powerful persona. Ron Perlman's portrayal of Angel, an artificially living being, adds to the film's macabre ambiance while Claudio Brook's portrayal of De La Guardia showcases the ruthlessness of the wealthy and powerful.

The soundtrack of the movie is also worth noting, as it adds to the film's eerie feel with its use of Latin hymns and creepy background music. The film's producer, Antonio Sánchez, explains that the film's title, Cronos, is the Greek God of time and the connection between the idea of immortality and its consequence, with a time limit being one of the essential themes of the movie.

Overall, "Cronos" is a must-see film for anyone interested in del Toro's filmography or lovers of horror movies. The movie presents a visual feast of horror and fantasy, direction that showcases a small understanding of a director who would, later on, revolutionize the horror genre. The acting and soundtrack coupled with the visual excellence of the film make it a classic representation of the horror genre with a unique touch from one of the most defining directors of the modern-day horror genre.

Cronos is a 1993 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 70.