I’ve been a fan of Guillermo del Toro since I took home the film Chronos one night from my video store. Since then, I haven’t missed anything he’s done, and look forward eagerly to each new project. When I heard that he was taking on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, I was delighted. The classic monsters have…
Tag: guillermo del toro
Dragonslayer (1981) – 4K Review
Vermithrax Pejorative. There has never been a more unique name for a dragon. Ever. It’s dark. Evocative. And it sends me spiralling back through the chambers of my mind to 1981 to when I first discovered the name. I knew Dragonslayer was a movie, I knew it was coming to theatres, and I put my…
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) – Guillermo del Toro, and Mark Gustafson
One of my favourite directors, Guillermo del Toro takes on the classic tale of Pinocchio. Teaming up with director Mark Gustafson and an incredibly talented bunch of animators and voice talent, del Toro moves the story forward in time to the 1920s, setting it in Italy during the rise of Mussolini, paired with some dark…
Crimson Peak (2015) – Guillermo del Toro
The first time I watched del Toro’s gothic tale I didn’t pay attention as much as I should and consequently, I grew bored with it. The advertising had made it look more akin to a horror film which is what I thought I wanted. I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of lurid colors, and what…
Nightmare Alley (2021) – Guillermo del Toro
Based on the novel of the same name del Toro’s latest is a lush, shining example of the noir genre, and features strong performances and visuals. I loved how faithful it was to the spirit of the novel, there were a few necessary changes, but none that change any of the overall arcs for any…
Mimic (1997) – Guillermo del Toro
del Toro has long been a favorite director, so I thought it was time to go back and visit Mimic. The film has a bit of a sordid past, not the least of which is Weinstein’s involvement, who clashed constantly with del Toro. The director swore off the film, but was finally able to give…
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) – Guillermo del Toro
del Toro and Ron Perlman have always seemed like the perfect match for the Mike Mignola created Hellboy. They balanced the sense of horror and humour in the first film, and then expanded on everything in the second, which is my next stop in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies. If the first film was…
Hellboy (2004) – Guillermo del Toro
del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth is the next big recommendation from DK Canada’s The Movie Book, and the What Else to Watch list is filled with his titles as well, all of which I’ve had the opportunity to watch and review prior to this. And then I saw Hellboy listed in there as well and had…
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark & More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (1981 & 1984) – Alvin Schwartz
Scary stories are always a delight to take part in, wrapped oneself in darkness and trying to laugh the chill that the scares gives us, while enjoying the fright and perceived danger of it, like whistling past a graveyard, seems to be ingrained in our DNA. I never read these young adult collections when they…
Blade II (2002) – Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro’s other vampire movie is the next title I came across in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book. A stronger entry than the first film, del Toro proves he can handle action beats with ease, and can work within the confines of a franchise. Wesley Snipes returns as Marvel’s day walking vampire…
The Mind Reels 