Review of Cronos

Introduction

Mexican director Guillermo del Toro first came to the attention of most movie lovers with the insect obsessed Mimic. While Mimic exhibited bags (or should that be sacs) of style and flair, and a number of effective and unsettling set pieces (especially the flight across the station platform), it was weighed down by Hollywood convention. The tension between a director that wanted to make an outlandish and creative film and a studio that wanted a Cineplex hit was obvious. This experience sent del Toro back to Mexico to make the eagerly awaited The Devil`s Backbone.

And Mexico is where he started in 1993 with Cronos, a reinvention of the vampire myth. Cronos doesn`t feature fangs or stakes or coffins (well, OK, one coffin) or bats. It does, however feature insects.

Jesus Gris is an elderly antique dealer who discovers a mysterious scarab-like brooch in the base of a statue. Jesus has no idea where it came from or what its purpose might be. (We do thanks to an unsettling prelude.) Experimenting with the device, he discovers that it is not an innocent decorative piece. It attaches itself to his hand and does … something. Initially, that something seems benign, giving energy and a certain youthfulness. However, you don`t get something for free and this gift soon appears to have a price - a certain dislike of sunlight and, yep, a thirst for blood.

While Jesus struggles against his unnatural urges, he starts to discover more about the gift that has been bestowed upon him. He also comes into contact with the evil Dieter who desperately wants to possess the gift also. Dieter will stop at nothing to possess the brooch including killing Jesus. Of course, this turns out be very, very difficult - Jesus is now pretty much immortal (but not in a good way). As, Jesus struggles with Dieter and his conscience, we discover what lies at the heart of the brooch. I don`t think I`m giving much away if I tell you that it is an insect.

Video

The video is presented as full frame 4:3 and is clear and detailed. The print isn`t perfect, but there is little to detract from the viewer`s enjoyment.

The film would have had a fairly tight budget but this isn`t evident from the visuals - set design and cinematography are excellent. Light is beautifully used to evoke mood and, generally, the film looks sumptuous. Good stuff.

Audio

The DD 2.0 audio is adequate - doing the job without really making its presence felt. This isn`t a criticism but, equally, there is little to praise.

The soundtrack by Javier Álvarez is a little bit special. It is dark and moody when it needs to be. However, he often introduces a jaunty melody when you least expect it and uses the device to add to the air of menace.

Features

The extras are pretty thin - just a few text based features, a stills gallery and a batch of Tartan terror trailers. The trailers are OK but don`t really add to the package. The text articles and the gallery are similarly OK but it all feels lightweight. A documentary or commentary would have been welcome.

Conclusion

Cronos is an excellent reworking of the vampire myth. The script is witty, introducing an appropriate level of humour to leaven the menace. The performances are excellent from a mostly unknown (in the UK, anyway) cast. Federico Luppi is superb as the decent but tormented Jesus who happens to find himself cursed with immortality. Tamara Shanath is equally good as the silent Aurora, Jesus` loyal granddaughter. The only familiar face is Ron Perlman who uses his unusual features to good effect - there is even a running joke about his nose.

The direction by del Toro is confident and inventive and exposes the promise that was often hidden in Mimic. With The Devil`s Backbone getting superb advance reviews and Blade 2 (vampires again) lined up, del Toro will go far.

The DVD is slightly disappointing but the film is a triumph and should be seen.