Review of Cronos (1993) by Sabra E — 16 Feb 2011

Guillermo Del Toro first feature film, Cronos, about the relationship between a little girl and her grandfather, is definitely on my top 5 list for: sweetest vampire films ever to grace the world.

Though the style of directing is is raw and choppy, it's obvious that something's there underneath the low budget effects: a love for craft, the ability to hone a vision with an organic sense of control.

There are fairy tale sensibilities within the story encompassing elements such as a curse, a charmed artifact, a hero struggling with weakness, a young heroine who must be brave in spite of the evil forces which threaten her environment, incorrigible villains--it's almost as if Cronos was inspired by any number of whimsical Miyazake films; or perhaps what both directors have in common stylistically, are their childlike sensibilities, fascinated by fantastical perils of unknown myths, boldly creating worlds to encase them and let them thrive in an imaginative ant farm medium.

Cronos is not great, but it is an interesting effort with a lot of promise radiating from a bizarre, but sympathetic and uniquely character driven story about youth and family.