Movie Review: Cronos (1993)

Cronos (1993) written and directed by Guillermo del Toro

Jesus Gris (Frederico Luppi) is an antiques seller who makes a fascinating discovery. An old statue of Saint Michael the Archangel has caught the interest of a customer, even though the eye is broken in. Cockroaches start coming out of the eye. Gris's granddaughter Aurora (Tamara Shanath) tries to kill the roaches but grandpa says that only makes more trouble. They open up the base of the statue and find a weird golden bug-shaped device. Viewers know from the prologue that this is the Cronos Device, a 16th-century alchemist's creation that let him live until 1937. Gris accidentally activates the device, which gives him a more youthful appearance but has unfortunate side effects. He hates sunlight and is fascinated by people who bleed; even worse, the sight of blood makes him thirsty.

A rich businessman has been searching for the statue because he has the alchemist's notebook which describes the device in detail. The businessman is older and on the verge of death, so he wants something to prolong his life. He uses his nephew Angel (Ron Perlman) to go out and do the dirty work. Angel is only hanging around to get the inheritance, so his situation is a lot more complicated than the classic thug henchman that he initially appears to be. The two come into conflict with Gris, who has his own inner turmoil about what is happening to him.

The movie was director Guillermo del Toro's first and in many ways mirrors other low-budget first time films. The movie sets itself apart by an incredible attention to detail, making the most of limited resources with creative visuals and storytelling. The relationship between grandfather and granddaughter is especially touching, showing a certain naturalness to aging that the vampiric device threatens to negate. At first, the grandfather is addicted to the rejuvenating power of the device. But the consequences are dire enough that he realizes self-sacrifice is much better than selfishness. The make-up looks unconvincing by today's standards, though again attention to detail makes up for a lot. The music is at time very heavy-handed, feeling intrusive. The actors are good though Perlman goes over the top a few times.

Recommended, but be prepared for the mid-level production values.