Happy Birthday Guillermo del Toro

Celebrating Guillermo del Toro, the Master of Horror

On Friday it was director/ writer Guillermo del Toro’s birthday. He has long been a supporter of Tripwire and he has had a  career that has had a profound influence on cinema. He also helped to bring Ron Perlman to people’s attention. So to celebrate his birthday this week, here’s five of his movies you really should see…

1. Cronos (1993)
   A great horror movie with a creepy premise, even though it was the film del Toro directed, you could see that he had a unique vision. Perlman is exceptional here.
2. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
   The first of his Spanish horror stories, set in an orphanage just after the Spanish Civil War, del Toro takes the usual tropes and themes and turns them on their head. A genuinely unsettling film.
3. Hellboy (2004)
   Casting Ron Perlman as the giant red supernatural investigator was an inspired move as who else could bring the wise-cracking demon that everyone loves to the screen with more style and panache than his regular collaborator?
4. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
   A brilliant horror film also in Spanish, set during the Spanish Civil War, Pan’s Labyrinth is one of the most imaginative, beautiful, emotional and unsettling horror films of the past two decades. Visually it was incredible, matched by a great script and wonderful performances.
5. Hellboy: The Golden Army (2008)
   The second adaptation of Mignola’s hellish creation was as enjoyable as its predecessor, thanks once again to the unrivalled visual genius of Guillermo del Toro and his team and the coolest man on the screen, Perlman again. There is talk of a third film, which hopefully will happen.
   JOEL MEADOWS
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Cronos [DVD] Devil’s Backbone [DVD] [2001] Hellboy [DVD] [2004] Guillermo Del Toro Collection (Pan’s Labyrinth, Cronos, The Devil’s Backbone) [DVD] [2006]