Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro’s (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water) directorial debut offers a unique take on the classic vampire story and went on to win the Critics’ Week award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993.
When antiques dealer Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi) discovers an ancient artifact, in the form of a golden mechanical scarab, he is unaware of the power it holds. Whilst the parasite inside the device grants eternal life to its new host, it also causes an extreme aversion to daylight and an unquenchable thirst for human blood. Desperate to claim the device for himself, a dying millionaire (played by Claudio Brook) and his brutish nephew (Ron Perlman, Hellboy) are in hot pursuit.
Newly restored in 4K, the BFI is delighted to be bringing Cronos back to UK audiences, in an extras-packed limited edition Blu-ray.
Extras
Restored in 4K and presented in High Definition
Newly recorded audio commentary by Jason Wood
Audio commentary with Guillermo del Toro (2002)
Audio commentary with producers Arthur H Gorson and Bertha Navarro and co-producer Alejandro Springall (in English and Spanish with optional English subtitles)
Optional original Spanish-language voice-over introduction
Cronos - An Introduction (2024, 34 mins): director Guillermo del Toro in conversation with the former head of the Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes film festival and current managing director of Arte France Cinéma, Olivier Père (2024, 34 mins)
Geometria (1987, 7 mins): a short film by Guillermo del Toro about a young man who pays dearly to have his dreams come true
Guillermo del Toro on Geometria (7 mins): a short interview with the director about Geometria
BFI Screen Talk: Guillermo del Toro (2017, 74 mins): filmed around the release of The Shape of Water, the writer and director discusses his career with journalist, author and screenwriter Mark Salisbury and the BFI London Film Festival
The Making of Cronos: An Interview with Federico Luppi (2006, 5 mins): a short archival interview with the actor
Interview with the director (2010, 60 mins): an archival interview with Guillermo del Toro
Interview with Guillermo del Toro (2010, 18 mins): an interview with the writer and director
Interview with Guillermo Navarro (2010, 13 mins): an interview with the film’s cinematographer
Interview with Ron Perlman (2010, 7 mins): an interview with the actor who since Cronos has gone on to become one of Del Toro’s regular collaborators
Theatrical trailer
Stills gallery
60-page book featuring new essays by Michelle Kisner, Rich Johnson, Barry Forshaw, and Michael Leader. Also includes and edited version of ‘Guillermo del Toro: The origins of horror and Cronos’, an interview that originally appeared in The Faber Book of Mexican Cinema, by Jason Wood and an original Sight & Sound review by John Kraniauskas.
Fold-out poster featuring the new artwork for the film
