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Stars: Federico Luppi, Claudio Brook, Ron Perlman, Tamara Shanath, Margarita Isabel, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Farnesio de Bernal | Written and Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro’s Cronos is a striking debut that foreshadows the filmmaker’s signature blend of horror, fantasy, and emotional depth. Though often overlooked in favour of his later works like Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) or The Shape of Water (2017), Cronos is a vital piece of his filmography, demonstrating his fascination with monsters, morality, and the intersection of beauty and decay.

At its core, Cronos is a vampire film, but unlike conventional entries in the genre, it eschews many of the traditional tropes. The film tells the story of Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi), an elderly antique dealer who stumbles upon a mysterious golden device hidden inside an ancient statue. This device—the Cronos mechanism—contains an insect-like creature that grants its user eternal youth but at a terrible cost.

Academy Award-winner Damien Chazelle is coming to Morelia to kick off Mexico’s 16th Morelia International Film Festival (Ficm) on Oct. 20 with his latest film, “First Man.”

For the first time, the festival will be presenting a medal for artistic excellence to Alfonso Cuaron, whose recent Venice Golden Lion-winner “Roma,” Mexico’s submission to the Oscars and Spain’s Goyas, will screen at the festival.

Pawel Pawlikowski returns to Morelia to present his latest work, “Cold War.” Other notable guests presenting their films include Paul Weitz, who presents “Bel Canto”; Fran Healy with her documentary “Almost Fashionable: A Film About Travis”; Dan Millar, who brings his documentary “Botero”; and Almudena Carracedo, who presents her acclaimed documentary “The Silence of Others.”

Hailed by Variety critic Owen Gleiberman as a film “so revelatory in its realism, so gritty in its physicality, that it becomes a drama of thrillingly hellbent danger and obsession,...

Could there be a more perfect moment than this? Sitting in the garden behind the Hotel Nacional, looking at the Cuban flag so proudly waving over the Straits of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The same site where the defense was built during the Cuban Missile Crisis, this moment of time marks a particularly precarious balance between peaceful coexistence and military aggression as we contemplate the recent death of Castro and election of Trump, wondering how it will play out in 2017.Hotel Nacional, Headquarters of Festival de Cine Nuevo Iberoamericano, Havana, Cuba

Cuba, ten days after the death of Fidel Castro, head of state for 52 years,may be a bit more subdued, but life here goes on, even with the influx of American tourists (other tourists have always been here); there is a sense of harmony. And in spite of the scarcity of luxuries for its people, the people...

Reviewed by Khia Beauchesne

(April 2011)

Directed by: Alejandro Springall

Written by: Alejandro Springall and Luis Aura

Starring: Eugenio Derbez, Martina García, Alejandra Barros and Juan Ríos

“No eres tú, soy yo” opens with the protagonist Javier (Eugenio Derbez) scrubbing in to assist with a surgery. The shots of the hospital and Javier as he enters the operating room with his co-workers are well-composed and colorful and have just the perfect amount of contrast. Fortunately, the audience can expect these brilliant frames throughout most of the movie.

Viewers quickly gather that Javier is the type of character with no luck whatsoever. During the first five minutes, Javier begs the senior surgeon to let him perform the surgery, but seconds later, the power goes out. Later, his best friend/business partner Martin (Juan Ríos) calls him to help out with a DJ gig their company is hosting. At the party, once again...

Reviewed by Khia Beauchesne

(April 2011)

Directed by: Alejandro Springall

Written by: Alejandro Springall and Luis Aura

Starring: Eugenio Derbez, Martina García, Alejandra Barros and Juan Ríos

“No eres tú, soy yo” opens with the protagonist Javier (Eugenio Derbez) scrubbing in to assist with a surgery. The shots of the hospital and Javier as he enters the operating room with his co-workers are well-composed and colorful and have just the perfect amount of contrast. Fortunately, the audience can expect these brilliant frames throughout most of the movie.

Viewers quickly gather that Javier is the type of character with no luck whatsoever. During the first five minutes, Javier begs the senior surgeon to let him perform the surgery, but seconds later, the power goes out. Later, his best friend/business partner Martin (Juan Ríos) calls him to help out with a DJ gig their company is hosting. At the party, once again...

[Editor's note: I've asked our team of world film correspondents to dish out their top 5 films of the year from their respective countries. Here's Christine Davila's take on the Best in Mexican Cinema in 2010.] To be clear, this is a list of Mexican films which either: traveled far in the 2010 film festival front, were critically acclaimed, received a healthy theatrical run, and which I consider the strongest celluloid among the Mexican narrative feature film trenches from where I culled and screened deep. Okay maybe not that deep, considering there are only about 100 feature narrative films produced in Mexico a year. But given that figure, this small percentage illustrates a strong dose of diversity and range of genre, budget, but more importantly original strong stories and voices. Before I begin....one special mention goes out to REVOLUCIÓN by Carlos Reygadas, Amat Escalante, Fernando Eimbcke, Mariana Chenillo, Patricia Riggen, Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal, Gerardo Naranjo, Rodrigo Garcia, and Rodrigo Plá. The first time I ever heard use of the word Portmanteau was when this movie starting popping up at festivals beginning with the world premiere...

DVD Playhouse December 2010

By

Allen Gardner

America Lost And Found: The Bbs Story (Criterion) Perhaps the best DVD box set released this year, this ultimate cinefile stocking stuffer offered up by Criterion, the Rolls-Royce of home video labels, features seven seminal works from the late ‘60s-early ‘70s that were brought to life by cutting edge producers Bert Schneider, Steve Blauner and director/producer Bob Rafelson, the principals of Bbs Productions. In chronological order: Head (1968) star the Monkees, the manufactured (by Rafelson, et al), American answer to the Beatles who, like it or not, did make an impact on popular culture, particularly in this utterly surreal piece of cinematic anarchy (co-written by Jack Nicholson, who has a cameo), which was largely dismissed upon its initial release, but is now regarded as a counterculture classic. Easy Rider (1969) is arguably regarded as the seminal ‘60s picture, about two hippie drug dealers (director Dennis Hopper...

Prior to receiving Criterion's Blu-ray release of Guillermo del Toro's feature directorial debut, Cronos, I'd never seen the film. Along with Mimic, it was the only del Toro film I hadn't seen as well as the only del Toro film I didn't own. I had, however, heard plenty about it, but most of what I'd heard originated from online sources so, as with most anything I read online, I took it with a grain of salt.

Del Toro seems to have become a bit of a favorite among online movie fans. I always get the impression a lot of his work is looked at through rose colored glasses so I can never tell if what I'm reading is actual opinion or affected opinion. In the case of Cronos this is bona fide del Toro, in line with The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth. It's the reason he's achieved such...

Guillermo del Toro's name seems to pop in relation to a new project every week, but he hasn't actually directed that many movies. Instead of picking up whatever comes along, he has generally chosen projects that appeal to his very specific interests. del Toro's first film Cronos (1993) -- which is now available on Blu-Ray from The Criterion Collection -- lays out the stylistic and thematic approach that del Toro still follows to this day. Cronos is a good movie -- not a great one -- that paved the way for superior works like The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth.

An antiques dealer named Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi) lives with his wife Mercedes (Margarita Isabel) and young granddaughter Aurora (Tamara Shanath). One fateful day, he comes across a mechanical gold scarab. The ancient device, which yields mysterious powers, slowly transforms Gris into a new being with strange uncontrollable passions. Gris'...

Guillermo del Toro's 1993 chiller Cronos has been available for years, but fans will be very pleased methinks with the new Criterion blu-ray and DVD set to hit shelves December 7. So what's on it?

Director-approved Special Edition:

- New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Guillermo del Toro and cinematographer Guillermo Navarro, including optional audio with the film’s original Spanish-language voice-over introduction as well as DTS-hd Master Audio on the Blu-ray edition

-Two audio commentaries, one featuring del Toro and the other producers Arthur H. Gorson and Bertha Navarro and coproducer Alejandro Springall.

- Geometria, an unreleased 1987 short horror film by del Toro, finished by the director in 2010, plus a new video interview with him.

- Welcome to Bleak House, a video tour by del Toro of his office, featuring his collectibles and personal work

-New video interviews with del Toro, Navarro, and actor Ron Perlman...

This past week Criterion announced the release of a long rumored title, Guillermo Del Toro’s Cronos. We’ll finally be able to pick up a DVD and Blu-ray edition of the film on December 7th.

Along with all of the incredible supplemental materials that will accompany the discs, the cover art by Hellboy creator (and longtime Del Toro friend) Mike Mignola is absolutely gorgeous. Showcasing the Cronos device that turns our hero, Jesús Gris, into a blood craving monster, the artwork is what many love about Criterion Collection cover art, it’s simple.

It’s not a collection of floating heads, it’s not a badly photoshopped piece of marketing. It’s an elegant approach to a gruesome concept, executed by a fan favorite. The fact that Mignola drew the image is almost an easter egg in itself. His name isn’t anywhere to be found on the drawing,...

Mark December 7th down on your calendars, kids! That's the date that the long talked about Criterion Collection Blu-ray/DVD release of Guillermo del Toro's classic tale Cronos is finally coming home in grand fashion! Talk about a holiday miracle!

Check out the specs and artwork below!

Director-approved Special Edition:

New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Guillermo del Toro and cinematographer Guillermo Navarro, including optional audio with the film's original Spanish-language voice-over introduction as well as DTS-hd Master Audio on the Blu-ray edition Two audio commentaries, one featuring del Toro and the other producers Arthur H. Gorson and Bertha Navarro and coproducer Alejandro Springall Geometria, an unreleased 1987 short horror film by del Toro, finished by the director in 2010, plus a new video interview with him Welcome to Bleak House, a video tour by del Toro of his office, featuring his collectibles and personal work New video interviews with del Toro,...

At this year’s Saturn Awards, Guillermo del Toro told me Criterion would be releasing his debut feature Cronos on both DVD and Blu-ray this December. While I assumed he was telling me the truth, it’s always nice when you get the story officially confirmed. And that’s what happened a few minutes ago as Criterion just sent over the info on their December releases and they’ve included all the details on their version of Cronos - including cover art by Mike Mignola!

Hit the jump for the front and back cover and all the details:

Here’s what they sent over. Needless to say, this is a must own Blu-ray.

Cronos – Bd & DVD

Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth) made an auspicious, audacious feature debut with Cronos, a highly unorthodox tale about the seductiveness of the idea of immortality. Kindly antiques dealer Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi...

Here we are with the last Criterion Collection new release announcement for 2010, and there are a couple amazing releases to talk about.

Last week we uncovered that Criterion was in fact prepared to finally release David Cronenberg’s Videodrome on Blu-ray on December 7th. This is the last of the Amazon pre-order announced titles that forced Criterion to reveal their cards a little early. I still haven’t seen the film, and I’m pretty glad that I waited, so that I can see this film in all of it’s high def insanity. While I’m sure there is something charming about watching the film on VHS, given the material, watching a recent fan edit trailer in HD, makes me really excited for the Blu-ray. The cover doesn’t necessarily change up the design much, aside from the color bars on the spine logo.

Now to the main course.

No longer just a pipe dream, but the real deal. The long talked about Criterion Collection edition of Guillermo del Toro's Cronos is coming to DVD and Blu-Ray on December 7. Featuring cover art by Mike Mignola (of course), this presentation harbors a bevy of extras. Check them out just past the art. Director-approved Special Edition: . New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Guillermo del Toro and cinematographer Guillermo Navarro, including optional audio with the film's original Spanish-language voice-over introduction as well as DTS-hd Master Audio on the Blu-ray edition . Two audio commentaries, one featuring del Toro and the other producers Arthur H. Gorson and Bertha Navarro and coproducer Alejandro Springall ....