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Cronos

Cronos

1993
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 34m
In 1535, an alchemist builds an extraordinary mechanism encapsulated into a small golden device. The invention, designed to convey eternal life to its owner, survives its maker until 1997 when it shows up to an antiquarian. (imdb)
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Cronos

1993
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 34m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 51.19% from 962 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(962)
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Rated 27 Sep 2019
70
65th
Ron Perlman as a sort of anti-Renfield is pretty great. There's a reason that old old men are not normally the protagonists in films and it's because they are old old men. But this speaks universally on death and decrepency (which isn't a word and probably shouldn't be).
Rated 08 Jul 2007
65
68th
A good film with a great plotline, showing the rising talents of director Guillermo del Toro and some nice acting by Federico Luppi. Enjoyable throughout, although little about the origins and mechanics of the device was really covered.
Rated 17 Dec 2007
80
84th
I'll add the gadget to the wishlist. Well wicked. Toe knee :-)
Rated 08 Dec 2010
67
62nd
A fairly original take on the vampire flick with some cool visuals that felt sorta Cronenberg-y. But it had the unfortunate feeling of a made-for-TV-movie (probably due to Ron Perlman as the annoying-as-hell henchman).
Rated 19 Sep 2011
60
34th
Ever movie about an old man is boring. There are no good movies about old men, and don't you dare say "No Country For Old Men," all the good stuff happens to middle age and young folk. This is a movie about an old man who becomes a vampire and hangs out with his creepy granddaughter and everything sucks and Ron Pearlman looks like a shaved gorilla with a perm.
Rated 25 Oct 2015
55
39th
This has got something or other (horror panache?), but I wasn't crazy about the film as a whole, and it certainly pales in comparison to del Toro's best work (Pan's Labyrinth).
Rated 21 Dec 2006
84
53rd
Very interesting story, but I wish the device itself had been explained in greater detail. Other than that, no complaints, and the movie had a really fantastic score, the final scene was especially poignant.
Rated 22 May 2007
60
47th
Due to the low budget about 20 minutes of footage was ruined and couldn't be reshot. That explains some of the holes in this film. Still a pretty good debut for del Toro
Rated 21 Aug 2008
78
66th
null
Rated 11 Sep 2008
79
70th
Sure it's not THAT awesome, but it is ingenious and gives us a glimpse at what del Toro has in him. A great international sensibility makes it stand out among others.
Rated 25 Mar 2009
75
54th
Del Toro makes an impressive feature-film debut with his Guadalupe-set horror fable, putting a boldly original spin on traditional celluloid vampire lore that separates his film from its bloodsucking brethren. Alternately menacing, poignant, and darkly funny, Del Toro's meditation on mortality eschews the vampire genre's usual interplay between Eros and Thanatos, instead dwelling almost exclusively on the latter.
Rated 17 Aug 2013
80
78th
I liked it, but it could have used a little more time to really get into the man's confusion about his newly acquired impulses. There were moments where we see him struggling with it, but certainly not enough. I like that the mechanical device was vague. Had they tried to get more into how it worked it more than likely would have seemed really stupid.
Rated 27 May 2014
64
56th
Nice debut by Del Toro, as Cronos develops like a strange, but attractive fantasy film and, slowly, blood is all over, Aurora barely speaks -- she's just the kid who relentlessly watches her grandpa find eternal life and be totally consumed by his drive for blood -- and the ancient device creates a path of violence and greed. There is even some room for Ron Perlman to shine as the comic relief -- he's the son of the rich old man who wants the golden-covered insect to cure his cancer.
Rated 12 Nov 2014
80
80th
Strange and wonderful story about the need for love and acceptance. Far from perfect but it has a genuinely unique take on the vampire myth, solid emotional core and an intriguing sensibility.
Rated 16 Oct 2015
55
35th
I so much wanted to like this more than I did, but Cronos didn't hit me the way I would have liked. The directing and make-up work is amazing, as usually is with del Toro, but it seemed like the writing was pretty shaky. The acting was fairly good, although Ron Perlman's character just did not belong. It was alright, but I wanted so much more out of a del Toro movie.
Rated 17 Jul 2017
84
84th
Stupidly overt character names aside, its a B movie that del toros direction elevates into an enjoyable grim fantasy. Its dark and other-worldly with mood creating music like were never gonna get again this side of 1999. It progresses well tho i agree with stuckey that even a tad more of Grey agonizing over his new impulses would have served it well.
Rated 20 Dec 2017
70
46th
This film is what happens when a comic book fanatic doesn't choose any half measures to make a film he wants to make, and the results are to die for.
Rated 12 Mar 2021
50
27th
I'm giving up on Guillermo del Toro. I've simply never liked anything he's made. Cronos starts interesting but becomes duller and duller as more madness ensues, sporting Terry Gilliamesque set pieces that awkwardly and self-consciously try to be outrageous and weird.
Rated 25 May 2022
70
52nd
I first watched this in a group setting, which is not how this film should be viewed. It felt like I was watching a completely new film. It's Cronenberg-esque in some scenes, but instead of clinical, del Toro opts for religiosity. The blood licking is in cinema's top-5 erotic scenes.
Rated 01 Mar 2007
70
82nd
Good film.
Rated 05 Nov 2007
82
67th
Excellent, succinct, personal story that plays with the vampire mythology in a unique way. Ron Pearlman is great. The roots of greatness are firmly planted in this well made horror flick with some timely comedy for good measure.
Rated 26 Jul 2008
80
64th
Del Toro's first film, and a good one!
Rated 29 Oct 2008
80
85th
A must see for all fans of del Toro's recent works like Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy 2. Proves that he can be a great, imaginitive director with both small and large budgets.
Rated 09 Nov 2008
76
41st
This is a film where del Toro was still fucking around with the style and thematics he would come to introduce with his later works; it's sloppy and all over the place, but it's still an enjoyable ride.
Rated 11 Mar 2009
76
88th
Good Movie
Rated 11 Jun 2009
66
58th
An eternal life device, but with a catch. Not one of del Toros best but entertaining nonetheless.
Rated 28 Jul 2009
80
81st
Pretty good
Rated 10 Nov 2009
80
64th
yeah!
Rated 18 Dec 2009
39
37th
This just didn't do it for me. It was nothing vampire stories haven't dealt with before, and it wasn't suspenseful or atmospheric enough to be a straight horror film. The antagonists were particularly uninteresting. I suggest skipping this in favour of del Toro's later work, the hint of classic fairy tale morality in this piece is expressed MUCH better in his later films.
Rated 03 Sep 2010
65
51st
Genuine and original but doesn't do anything especially well. Interesting to watch from a perspective of seeing where his later more accomplished work comes from.
Rated 15 Dec 2010
45
3rd
This is a low budget Mexican horror movie that is Guillermo del Toro's first time directing.This movie was a well shot but badly acted and poorly writing movie.None of the characters come of as interesting or engaging.Tamara Shanath who plays Aurora stands around with a blank look on her face in most of her scenes.The story of the Cronos device and the rules surrounding it are hardly explained at all.The ending was cliched and boring.One Thumb Down.
Rated 25 Dec 2010
77
59th
77.250
Rated 07 Jan 2011
65
57th
Good and creepy
Rated 13 Feb 2011
75
62nd
A film with a very simple story only made good by various Del Toro touches and quirks.
Rated 25 Feb 2011
76
54th
Granted it is not his best movie, but it is a very interesting and different vampire story and fable of the conquest for immortality. Del Toro is adept at writing parts for children. A stronger first half than second.
Rated 20 Jun 2011
76
54th
Falls apart at the end, and del Toro hadn't quite mastered child actors, but it has some great style and Perlman is AWESOME.
Rated 25 Jul 2011
65
43rd
A solid vampire film somewhere in between a black comedy and a family drama, but never feeling like a horror. Has some cool visual effects and some neat camerawork, but feels a bit empty and Hollywood overall.
Rated 03 Aug 2011
70
59th
Delightful! I love del Toro.
Rated 01 Sep 2011
77
40th
del Toro brings several fresh, aesthetically interesting flourishes to the vampire genre, more emotional than scary. An original voice is evident from the get go.
Rated 16 Oct 2011
65
38th
A pleasurable diversion though not entirely memorable. Ron Perlman's never a bore, and Federico Luppi is particularly enjoyable as a loving grandfather who happens to get stung by the wrong mystical artifact. The details of the vampiric transformation were a little too muddled; why does he need human blood AND the scarab thing? Normally I wouldn't care about that kind of continuity but the film seems hellbent on trying to explain it. A lack of narrative cohesion in general is its greatest fault.
Rated 17 Nov 2011
75
71st
Beautifully shot and emotional vampire movie - far from the typical Hollywood sex-and-action stuff, here it's two old men who are fighting over a device that will make you immortal at a very high cost. There's religious overtones a-plenty getting right back to the inverted-Jesus status of vampires, Federico Lippi is perfect in the lead, and Ron Perlman is a hoot as his enemy's bumbling hitman nephew.
Rated 19 Dec 2011
70
64th
- recommended
Rated 28 Jan 2012
86
93rd
One of the most unique and intriguing horror films I've ever seen. Del Toro works wonders with the cast and they all turn in fantastic performances. The writing is pitch-perfect the whole way through, and the visuals are terrific. Really loved this, much better than Del Toro's later film Pan's Labyrinth.
Rated 12 Mar 2012
65
30th
A very cool beginning where I wasnt expecting at all it would turn into a vampire movie, though it was a very original vampire movie: becoming immortal at a high cost. The idea was good, but the acting was poor and the actors poorly chosen. It was more emotional than scary.
Rated 02 Jun 2012
66
41st
I started to notice some recurring themes in Guillermo del Toro's movies after I watched this one. Creepy mechanical devices, big freaky bugs, little girls who don't talk much... And of course, Ron Perlman
Rated 05 Aug 2012
8
54th
Lots of great visual flair, as per usual with Guillermo's stuff. I loved how he brought the idea of alchemy and the pursuit of eternal life into the vampire mythos, and the little steampunk-esque details were cool too. I recommend this movie highly to any vampire fans!
Rated 18 Sep 2012
75
48th
Well, it's definitely a different look at vampire lore. Reminds me a lot of Thirst, but without the copious amounts of off the wall humor (lol,unless you count Perlman being a goober here).
Rated 30 Sep 2012
73
39th
Del Toro possesses a singular talent for methodological horror, unfortunately I think his debut, while showing some potential, is a rather weak retread of Lovecraftian themes rather than a unique creative vision. It's a shame because you could imagine how well a later Del Toro would have handled the project. There is a charm and intelligence to the script though, you could tell that Del Toro has the spirit of a true storyteller.
Rated 08 Oct 2012
73
36th
A solid film for sure, the transformation of the main character is well done, Ron Perlman is fun in his role and the conceit is interesting. But something is lacking. The pacing seems jumbled, sometimes flying through the plot, other times wandering aimlessly, and never really fully engaging me. It's set up as a complex tale, but executed as a film relying on atmosphere, and doesn't fully succeed with either.
Rated 26 Oct 2012
62
37th
* Casting, Acting : 7 * Script : 6 * Directing, Aura : 6 * Ease of Viewing : 6 * Naked Eye : 6
Rated 18 Jan 2013
76
53rd
75.67.
Rated 02 Apr 2013
94
76th
Tired of 'same old, same old' when it comes to vampire flicks? Want something intelligent, touching, innovative and witty? Well, look no further, my friends. This is one of the best vamp movies you'll see. Del Toro handles it deftly, as he does with almost all his movies. This proves what a class act he is.
Rated 12 Jun 2013
25
5th
Ömrü uzatan aygit, antikaci, krematoryum, ölü yakma, öldü sanilan adam, uçurumdan yuvarlanan adam, dede torun, vampir (finalde)
Rated 05 Oct 2013
90
84th
Del Toro eschews the sexual horror of the vampire genre for a far loftier religious allegory, in his impeccably shot first feature. And Ron Pearlman. Dude's always great.
Rated 13 Oct 2013
78
66th
A unique and twisted monster movie, filmed in a low-key style that feels oh so right.
Rated 21 Jul 2014
70
76th
An incredible debut by Guillermo del Toro. No wonder he's so highly regarded. It must have been an amazing experience to watch when this movie came out at that time.
Rated 18 Oct 2014
77
55th
Feels like it would be a cheery family movie about a girl and her vampire granddad if it weren't so grotesque and full of blood.
Rated 28 Feb 2015
80
78th
It doesn't really hint at what our buddy Memo would eventually accomplish, but Cronos is still a very good, eminently re-watchable horror/fantasy flick.
Rated 09 Jun 2015
80
63rd
I really enjoyed this movie. The tension between family scenes and moments of terror play well together. English and Spanish are juxtaposed throughout the movie. English is the evil language. The main characters speak their native tongues and never have a moment of misunderstanding. I can understand why del Toro loved Ron Perlman so much. He really shows his chops in this film. He is creepy, yet, at times, I felt sorry for him. Federico Luppi was a treat; never having seen him before.
Rated 25 Aug 2015
10
9th
Just another vampire movie.
Rated 10 Oct 2015
7
49th
While it's evident that Guillermo del Toro still had room to grow as a filmmaker, 'Cronos' displays many elements that have made the director the respectable artist he is today; the oddly charming characters, the grotesque horror, and the strange atmosphere are all commendable. It isn't amazing, but it deviates enough from the typical vampire formula to make it worthwhile.
Rated 17 Jul 2017
65
60th
(Viewed in 2014): Cronos seemed more impressive in the mid 90's when horror was on life support. It offered something increasingly rare: conceptual based horror with classical thematic underpinnings about the price of immortality and the destructive nature of man's acquisitive impulse. Luppi gives a strong performance as an old antique dealer who makes a deadly faustian pact, and the mechanical device is convincingly designed, but it doesn't completely deliver due to Del Toro's inexperience.
Rated 20 Jul 2017
4
74th
The allusion isn't so subtle when your protagonist is actually named Jesús Gris, but no matter, because the equation of Christian resurrection mythology with vampirism is fascinating, and exciting to watch when viewed through the grotesque imagination of this morbid fabulist. This is a unique film, and I can imagine the feeling upon its release of someone special having arrived.
Rated 07 Sep 2017
84
71st
Del Toro's variation on the vampire mythology is certainly watchable enough w/ a sympathetic protagonist & the occasional surprise in story, but it still seems overhyped for what essentially amounts to a well-made B-movie. Presumably the snobs at Criterion included this in their "Collection" because Del Toro "muddies his waters to appear deep" and shrewdly (if you want critics to fawn) chooses not to explain what - in less pretentious hands - would be considered plotholes.
Rated 17 Nov 2017
3
23rd
Every movie could use more Ron Perlman in a ridiculous suit+turtleneck
Rated 27 Apr 2018
51
52nd
I dig the mesh between two popular myths, but this film is rather lacking when compared to Del Toro's future films. There's very little suspense in the plot, the pace is boring and plodding, and for a director who's known for having fantastic shots, this film was middling at best in that regard. For what it's worth, its play on conventions is pretty interesting but the film lacks any emotional heft and the changes in tone feel more jarring than anything else.
Rated 02 Jun 2018
75
54th
Competente primeiro trabalho de Del Toro, onde já evidencia vários elementos que permeariam sua carreira. DVD Versátil Vampiros no Cinema Volume 1
Rated 10 Feb 2019
53
42nd
Starts off suspenseful and fun, kinda meanders and fades. The score and narration style probably adds a full point to my rating. An interesting start for the filmmaker.
Rated 09 Apr 2020
65
23rd
With a fairytale demeanour that lightens the mood, it's fixated on an imagination that I'm sure wanted to film much more explicitly.
Rated 05 May 2020
70
58th
When I licked blood off a bathroom floor, it was most certainly NOT immortality that I caught.
Rated 04 May 2021
65
35th
Guillermo del Toro's first feature is ripe with body horror and a very cool looking gadget. The narrative isn't as strong as some of the other parts of of the film, but this is a unique take on the vampire genre.
Rated 29 Oct 2021
86
53rd
Pretty good
Rated 25 Jun 2022
70
54th
Very much a first feature movie in that it’s influences are scattershot everywhere and it’s not nuanced in the slightest but it has those great GDT touches. Great villain and a lot of blood.
Rated 28 Jun 2022
4
51st
Del Toro at his bloodiest
Rated 05 Oct 2022
60
26th
Insectsgodsfavcreatures-buti'mkeepingtheinstructions+licksbathroombloodlol+fakesdeath+granddaughtersaveslol-thenagainbutwithit-nuffskinpeeled-breaksit
Rated 23 Oct 2022
75
56th
Perlman is fun in this fresh take on vampires. Del Toro already shows quite a bit of skill, though they could have really explored the transformation more--there just seems to be quite a bit missing. Good atmosphere, though, and points for originality. I didn't really mind the device not being explained more, as other reviewers have mentioned. In this kind of movie, kind of a dark horror fantasy, I think it's okay to just suspend your disbelief and basically consider it a magical device.
Rated 17 Jan 2023
70
48th
That pacing was rough
Rated 31 Jan 2023
73
42nd
The Ur-Text of GDT's artistic sensibilities. Wonderful practical effects, close ups of mechanical whirring, small children unflinching in their confrontation of the super natural, and Ron Perlman being a fucking weirdo. Ending is fairly anti-climatic. Narrative is so-so

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