Bibliophile100

In preparation for Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" on Netflix, I decided to look back at where he began, with his supernatural horror film "Cronos", and it was very intriguing, mysterious, and thought provoking.

An elderly antique dealer makes a brand new discovery: a small beetle shaped like artifact...that pierces his skin, and infects him a scary, haunting gift! The most sought after, most interesting sounding, most excellent sounding, and most deceitful gift of them all...immortality! Soon, the dealer finds himself craving blood, his skin peeling, himself addicted to the artifact's power, sunlight is hazardous to him, and has a greedy business father and son after his power!

Being Guillermo's first directed longer movie, I enjoyed it very much! An excellent premise, great pacing, stupendous direction and camera work, and a sad, but slightly educational end. When taking the whole film in, it really leaves you wondering...is immortality, eternal life, really worth sacrificing your humanity and sanity for? Is it alright with you to outlive your family, friends, everyone you love most of all, not being able to join them in Heaven, because you simply cannot? Immortality may seem to lots of people, the greatest prize in all of existence, but for others, like the elderly antique dealer soon learns, it can also become a curse. I believe it's better to earn eternal life naturally, acknowledging the life that God has given you, and living it to your very best! That way, when your time comes to earn your rightful place in Heaven, and receive eternal life, your life in the Land of the Living will feel all worth the while, and meaningful to reflect on, before you move on, to a better, happier, peaceful place. After all, as an old saying goes: "There is a heaven, for those who will wait."