Way back in 1994, when pretty much all that was on at the flicks were action pics, Guillermo del Toro’s feature debut Cronos released and garnered an eye-watering 24 awards. Watching it again now on this newly restored 4K version from the BFI, it’s not hard to see why.
Jesus, an ageing antiques dealer from Mexico City, finds a mechanical scarab beetle inside one of his statuettes and, with a little bloodletting, it grants him eternal life and a return to his youthful vigour. But with such gifts come sacrifices.
Del Toro is known for filling his screen to the brim with objects and imagery, nowhere more so than in the opening scenes in Jesus’ shop. This 4K transfer seems to lift each vista with all those extra pixels, lending an even more lived-in feel to the picture; see for example the quality of the objects strewn around the shop. It furthers the almost painterly feel of del Toro’s sets and direction.
While the film is but a brisk 1 hour and 34 minutes, it feels very nineties in its pacing – not plodding, but a little pedestrian by today’s standards. This is at odds with what feels like a rushed conclusion. That said, it still bears all the marks of del Toro’s brush – it can be queasy and claustrophobic in places and yet at the same time bears a levity and a bizarre sense of optimism through the darkness.
Whether you’ve seen the film a thousand times and want to gaze upon it with fresh eyes or are just working your way through del Toro’s back catalogue, Cronos is well worth your time.
