Cronos (1993)

A mysterious device designed to provide its owner with eternal life resurfaces after four hundred years, leaving a trail of destruction in its path.

Director:

Guillermo del Toro

Writer:

Guillermo del Toro

Stars:

Federico Luppi, Ron Perlman, Claudio Brook

22 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Federico Luppi	...	Jesus Gris
Ron Perlman	...	Angel de la Guardia
Claudio Brook	...	De la Guardia
Margarita Isabel	...	Mercedes
Tamara Shanath	...	Aurora
Daniel Giménez Cacho	...	Tito
Mario Iván Martínez	...	Alchemist
Farnesio de Bernal	...	Manuelito
Juan Carlos Colombo	...	Funeral Director
Jorge Martínez de Hoyos	...	Narrator (voice)
Luis Rodríguez	...	Buyer
Javier Álvarez	...	Bleeding Man
Gerardo Moscoso	...	Drunk
Eugenio Lobo	...	Stoned Man
Adriana Olivera	...	Tango Student

Storyline

In 1536, in Veracruz, Mexico, during the Inquisition, an alchemist builds a mysterious and sophisticated device named Cronos to provide eternal life to the owner. In the present days, the antiques dealer Jesus Gris finds Cronos hidden inside an ancient statue while cleaning it with his granddaughter Aurora. He accidentally triggers the device and soon his wife Mercedes and he note that he has a younger appearance. Out of the blue, the stranger Angel de la Guardia visits Gris's shop and buys the old statue. On the next day, Gris finds his shop trashed and Angel's card on the floor. He pays a visit to Angel that introduces him to the eccentric millionaire De la Guardia that explains the healing power and the eternal life given by Cronos. Angel is sent by De la Guardia to hunt down Gris to get Cronos no matter the costs.

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Plot Keywords:

eternal life | antique dealer | invention | statue | alchemist | 

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Genres:

Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for horror violence and for language

Details

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish English

Release Date:

May 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cronos

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$621,392

Company Credits

Production Co:

CNCAIMC,Fondo de Fomento a la Calidad Cinematográfica,Grupo Del Toro

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film went over budget from the original $1,5 million to $2 million (the highest budget for a Mexican movie at the time). Guillermo del Toro himself got the half million through loans and bank debts. In order to complete the film, changes had to be made, among those changes were Ron Perlman, who agreed to a heavy salary cut. Perlman and del Toro have been good friends ever since, working together frequently.

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Goofs

When Jesús searches for Aurora after she has taken the Cronos, as he walks through two doors, he stops. Behind him, reflected in the glass of the door, is crew and equipment.

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Quotes

[discussing why Deiter wants the Cronos]
Jesus Gris: He thinks it will help him live longer.
Angel de la Guardia: [laughs] That fucker does nothing but shit and piss all day, and he wants to live longer?

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Crazy Credits

Dedicated to the memory of Josefina Camberos

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Connections

Featured in Vampire Reviews: Cronos (2017)

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Soundtracks

We Wish You a Merry Christmas
(uncredited)
Traditional English carol
Whistled by Ron Perlman

User Reviews

Slow but interesting reinvention of the vampire legend

When antiques dealer Jesús finds the legendary Cronos device within a statue he accidentally uses it. It feeds on his life force in exchange for eternal life. However wealthy Dieter and his nephew Angel also want the device and are willing to do anything to get it.

This is certainly a different vision of the vampire story, it dispels with a lot of the gore, the castles, Igor etc, but keeps the sunlight, the through the heart death etc. The story moves very slowly and is focused on Jesús and the devices' effect on him. His accidental transformation causes concern within his granddaughter and he finds that eternity has a price. The scenes between Jesús and Aurora are touching and make a nice change from the blood letting scenes.

The action is never really forthcoming and it is a little stilted in a way. Pearlman's character is a good addition to the story, but it does move so slowly that it may be a disappointment to those expecting a horror film. Luppi is good as Jesús, haunted by a gift he never wanted, Tamara is also strong as his granddaughter.

Overall it's an interesting retelling of a famous story. The direction is faultless although the story occasionally feels aimless and drifting.