Review of Cronos (1993) by Joseph B — 08 Dec 2010

In "Cronos," Jesus Gris(Federico Luppi) runs an antique store where he and his granddaughter Aurora(Tamara Shanath) play hopscotch most days to pass the time. However, one day, they discover a gold scarab inside a statue that attaches itself to his palm before he is able to dislodge it. At first, he feels younger, before strange appetites begin to develop. Being the expert and knowing what to expect does not stop de la Guardia(Claudio Brook) from wanting it. So, he sends his nephew Angel(Ron Perlman) to retrieve it.

For Guillermo del Toro's first feature, "Cronos" is not a bad start to such a prestigious career but it pales compared to his later movies. In fact, the movie is more than a little rough, resembling a B-thriller more than the horror/fantasy film it should have been which is reinforced by a horrendous musical score. That's not to mention the unnecessary tacked on introduction. But while he may not have had the skills yet, his ideas are already on display, as he tells an intriguing Christmas story, saying that living forever is totally overrated. And the device is certainly ingenious. What is most important is that del Toro displays a keen affinity for telling the story of children in this movie, also.