Another vampire movie under my belt, as I watched Cronos by Guillermo del Toro. It’s not a totally traditional vampire film, but there are enough similarities to the lore to suffice. The film is interesting and moves at a very deliberate pace as the story unfolds. I enjoyed the acting and this unique spin on the vampire mythos. I give Cronos the Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy rating.
Cronos is an interesting story utilizing elements of vampire lore
Jesus Gris (Federico Luppi) finds a mysterious device inside a statue at his antique shop. Upon activating it, Jesus finds himself pulled to continue its use despite the pain it causes him. He notices a new youthful look and feel each time he uses the device, but he also can’t quench his thirst. He is not the only one seeking the device and finds himself in danger as a result.
The film opens with narration about an alchemist who created the Cronos device. It allows the user to live a prolonged life. There are hints, after the owner’s death, that he was drinking human blood to sustain himself with his extended life. However, his death also caused the device to go missing as no one else knew about it. The alchemist journal fell into the hands of De la Guardia (Claudio Brook) who sends his nephew, Angel de la Guardia (Ron Perlman), out looking for it. Jesus finds it by coincidence before they are able to themselves.
I’m a big fan of Federico Luppi after seeing Pan’s Labyrinth, the Devil’s Backbone, and now Cronos. He has a great presence on screen and is clearly committed to his character. There are scenes in the film that made me cringe and look away. I contribute that to his commitment to the role. He was so desperate for blood and yet he didn’t know he needed it. He was clearly compelled by something outside of his rational though. This isn’t a traditional vampire film so there are no fangs or vicious attack sequences. Yet, he finds himself in a few situations where blood is available. Those moments bothered me more than many vampire attacks seen in other films.
As usual, del Toro has a great visual style and production values. Even for a smaller film, the makeup and costuming are fantastic. As Jesus goes through some traumatic moments, his skin starts to change. It’s a very natural looking prosthetic that makes the film so visually pleasing. It’s not my favorite del Toro film, but I definitely enjoyed it.
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