Cronos

Fresh and bracing, del Toro’s feature debut announced the arrival of a strikingly original cinematic voice. Antiques dealer Jesús Gris discovers an ancient mechanical scarab artefact, but is unaware of the power it holds. While the parasite inside the device grants eternal life to its new host, it also causes an aversion to daylight and an unquenchable thirst for human blood. With its interest in family and the true nature of horror, Cronos set a course for things to come in del Toro’s career. Inventively employing vampirism in its assessment of the relationship between the USA and Mexico, this darkly comic work remains a highlight within the filmmaker’s incredible body of work.

Jason Wood, Executive Director for Public Programmes and Audiences

+ Doña Lupe (only with screenings on Fri 15 May 18:00 and Thu 28 May 18:05)
Mexico 1985. Director Guillermo del Toro. 30min. Digital. With English subtitles
An elderly woman takes in a pair of suspicious lodgers.

The screenings of Cronos on Sat 30 May 18:20 NFT4; Tue 2 Jun 18:25 NFT4; Thu 4 Jun 12:00 NFT4  will be presented with Descriptive Subtitles.

Cronos has been scanned and restored at 4K resolution using the original 35mm camera negative, by Les Films du Camélia and BFI, with the supervision of Guillermo del Toro, and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1.

See our Guillermo del Toro season.

Also available on BFI Player