Cronos

Director: Guillermo del Toro

1992 / 94min / DCP

Del Toro’s feature debut—and his first collaboration with actor Ron Perlman—stars Perlman as the thuggish nephew of a wealthy industrialist whose uncle has set him on the scent of antiques dealer Jesús (Federico Luppi), discoverer of a scarab-shaped mechanical curio that grants its owner eternal youth—while awakening in them a vampiric thirst. Not only does del Toro’s film take place during the Christmas season (Perlman can be heard whistling “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”), but the story of Jesús, blood, and eternal life is rich with allegorical suggestions.