Cronos (1993)
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An elderly antique dealer discovers a mysterious, ancient mechanism that grants him youth and vitality at a terrifying cost.
The story
In 1996, an elderly antique dealer named Jesús Gris discovers a 460-year-old mechanism hidden inside an archangel statue. Upon activating the ornate, scarab-shaped device, he begins to experience a miraculous restoration of his youth and physical health. However, this transformation comes with a disturbing side effect: a growing thirst for blood. As Gris struggles to manage his new condition, he becomes the target of a wealthy, dying businessman named Dieter de la Guardia, who has been searching for the mechanism for years. Dieter sends his ruthless nephew, Angel, to seize the device from the antique shop, setting off a dangerous conflict over the power of the ancient machine.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The story begins with an alchemist in 1536 who creates a mechanism for eternal life. In 1996, antique dealer Jesús Gris finds this device and, upon using it, regains his youth but develops a thirst for blood. He is pursued by Dieter de la Guardia, a wealthy man seeking the device, who sends his abused nephew Angel to retrieve it. After a series of encounters where Gris survives attempts to take the device, he eventually meets Dieter. Dieter offers a 'way out' in exchange for the mechanism, but when Gris refuses to give it up, Dieter stabs him. During the confrontation, Dieter is incapacitated by Gris's granddaughter, Aurora, and Gris feeds on him. Angel, tired of his uncle's abuse, kills the dying Dieter. On a rooftop, Angel and Gris fight; Gris throws them both off, killing Angel. Aurora finds Gris and uses the mechanism to wake him. Despite the risk of succumbing to his bloodlust, he restrains himself from feeding on her. He ultimately destroys the mechanism and is shown at home with his wife and daughter.
- First release year
- 1992
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- Mexico
- Original languages
- Spanish
- Directors
- Guillermo del Toro
- Writers
- Guillermo del Toro · writer
- Cast and characters
- Federico Luppi · Jesús Gris; Ron Perlman · Angel; Claudio Brook · Dieter de la Guardia; Tamara Shanath · Aurora Gris; Margarita Isabel · Mercedes Gris; Daniel Giménez Cacho · Tito the Coroner; Mario Iván Martínez · Alchemist; Farnesio de Bernal · Manuelito; Jorge Martínez de Hoyos · Narrator
- Genres
- dark fantasy; horror; drama
- Themes
- immortality; sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- dark; gothic
- Setting
- Mexico, spanning various years including 1536, 1937, 1996, and a New Year's Eve party.
- Premise and plot tags
- vampire; supernatural; alchemy
- Reception
- Critical reviews were overwhelmingly positive, praising the inventive direction and creative storytelling, and over time Cronos has been regarded as a classic. It is recognized as one of the greatest horror films and Spanish language films of all-time.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 90% · scale: approval rating · review count: 60; Metacritic · score: 70 · scale: out of 100 · review count: 12
- Awards and nominations
- Best Foreign Language Film · Academy Awards · 66th · not accepted as a nominee
- Production trivia
- It is Guillermo del Toro's first feature film.; It was included in the Criterion Collection.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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