Filmmaker Spotlight:
Mexican Creator and Visionary
Guillermo del Toro
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, and I wanted to highlight one of my favorite and most prolific Hispanic filmmakers of our time, Guillermo del Toro. Most mainstream audiences know del Toro from his Academy Award-winning films Pans Labyrinth and The Shape of Water but I myself was introduced to his incredible work while I was (aging myself) in college and saw The Devil’s Backbone. I was immediately drawn to his imaginative and colorful storytelling. Guillermo del Toro was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, and started experimenting at the age of 8 years old with his father’s camera. As his love for filmmaking grew he later studied special effects and makeup under Dick Smith (The Exorcist, Scanners, Death Becomes Her, House on Haunted Hill). Guillermo del Toro’s knowledge of special effects and makeup is shown vastly in his incredible body of work and he has a strong connection to fantasy and horror that I love! He can hypnotize you with his aesthetic and engaging narrative twists and turns. His films are not only extremely enjoyable but they stay with you and they’re far from forgettable.
Guillermo Del Toro’s catalog varies from independent to big blockbuster hits and he was listed in Time Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2018. The Hollywood Reporter also includes Guillermo del Toro along with Alfonso Cuarón and Alejandro González Iñárritu as the “Three Amigos of Cinema“!
Below I’ve compiled a list of my favorites of Guillermo Del Toro’s specific horror work that he’s either directed, written, or produced as well as a few bonuses:
*Please note* Films listed in alphabetical order. Streaming availability is posted according to publish date. Please check your local listings and the linked Just Watch page for streaming updates!
Blade II (2002): In this sequel, Blade forms a reluctance alliance with the vampire council in order to battle the Reapers, who are feeding on everything in sight including other vampires.
I’m a huge fan of the Blade franchise. For me, this sequel is just as good if not better than the orginal. In fact, the worldwide gross of Blade II was over $24 million more than its predecessor. The Reapers are just completely terrifying in every way!
Streaming: HBO Max and available for rental.
Watch the trailer here.
Chronos (1993): There is a strange and ancient device conceived to give its owner everlasting life that resurfaces after hundreds of years, leaving a trail of annihilation in its path.
Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro this is his first big-budget fantasy-horror film and is still quite the watch and also stars Ron Perlman!
Streaming: HBO Max, The Criterion Channel and available for rental.
Crimson Peak (2015): After a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. She tries to escape the ghosts of her past and is swept away to a house of terror.
This film encapsulates the beauty of a Guillermo del Toro film that you’ll find to be a moody and haunting mystery. Starring Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, and the always foxy Tom Hiddleston. (No offense Daniel)
Streaming: Exclusively on Netflix and available for rental.
The Devil’s Backbone (2001): A 12-year old boy becomes orphaned as his father dies in the Spanish Civil War. Carlos is brought to a sinister boys’ orphanage and he discovers the school is not only haunted but he must uncover its many dark mysteries.
This film is where my love affair with Guillermo del Toro began! The Devil’s Backbone is truly haunting!
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, DirecTV, and available or rental.
Watch the trailer here.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (2010): A young girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend believes that she has released creatures in her new home.
Produced and written by Guillermo del Toro this film will definitely keep you wondering what’s hiding in the dark… Starring Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce, and Bailee Madison.
Streaming: Fubo, DirecTV, Prime Video AMC+ and available for rental.
Mama (2013): After a family tragedy a young couple takes in their two abandoned nieces Victoria and Lily. They soon wonder if a supernatural entity named Mama has latched onto their family.
Executive produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by Andy Muschietti, Mama is a spooky tale for sure! At this point, you may have already guessed that Guillermo del Toro kills it when it comes to the “Creepy kid” conceptual films. Starring Jessica Chastain (Crimson Peak) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones). It’s a must-watch!
Streaming: Cinemax, MAX GO, and available for rental.
Mimic (1997): Entomologist Dr. Susan Tyler (Mira Sorvino) genetically produced an insect to kill cockroaches carrying a destructive disease. Now, the insects are out to eradicate their only known predator…mankind.
Guillermo Del Toro did NOT get the final cut on Mimic and didn’t support its initial release. In fact, Bob Weinstein tried to have del Toro fired and it remains to be one of his worst filming experiences to date! However, there is a director’s cut out there that more closely resembles his vision for the film. Mimic is still quite a fun ride! One word: MOIST.
Streaming: Shudder, Vudu and available for rental. Director’s cut available for rental only.
The Orphanage (2007): Laura brings her family back to her old childhood residence, which used to be an orphanage for handicapped children. Her son Simón begins to communicate with “imaginary” new friends and the terror begins.
Executive produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by J.A. Bayona The Orphanage is a truly chilling and mysterious journey. Fun fact, The Orphanage open at Cannes in 2007 and received a 10-minute standing ovation. Highly recommend!
Streaming: Starz, DirecTV, and available for rental.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019): Based on the Children’s book of the same name this film takes place on Halloween 1968. Stella and her friends meet a strange drifter, Ramón, and uncover an ominous notebook of stories that come to life.
Produced by Guillermo del Toro this movie is a lot of fun. There’s one story, in particular, that is completely horrific to me. I’ll give you a guess there’s an insect with eight legs involved…
Streaming: Showtime, Tubi, DirecTV, Fubo, and available for rental.
Splice (2009): Genetic engineers Clive Nicoli (Adrien Brody) and Elsa Kast (Sarah Polley) hope to achieve notoriety by successfully splicing together the DNA of different species of animals to create a new hybrid for medical experimentation to advance mankind.
Executive produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by Vincenzo Natali this Sci-fi/horror feature is a commentary on the potential dangers of science and interfering with nature much like in Mimic. This movie STAYED with me. I’ll just say this, “Inside you!” If you see it. You’ll know what I mean. Horrifying!
Streaming: Hoopla and available for rental.
***BONUS***
These films don’t really fall into the horror genre but nonetheless are incredible works from Guillermo del Toro that are worth checking out! His feature Nightmare Alley is coming out soon in January 2022!
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006): In war-torn Falangist Spain of 1944, the young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer, Ofelia, escapes into a strange but captivating fantasy world.
This critically acclaimed film dances the line of horror in some scenes but is more of a drama/fantasy adventure. As per usual, this beautifully shot film brings you to an enchanted world you are totally hypnotized by. Roger Ebert even called it a “Fairytale for grownups.”
Streaming: Exclusively on Netflix and available for rental.
Hellboy (2004): Nazis aim to raise dark forces from hell and conjure up a demon named Hellboy. They raise him and he ends up being a crusader against evil.
Although this qualified more as an action/fantasy/comic book film there are definitely horrific elements. I mean it is called Hellboy. This is one of Daniel’s favorites and it’s a lot of fun! Starring Ron Perlman (Chronos), Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth, everything you love), and Selma Blair (Cruel Intentions), and John Hurt (Alien, V for Vendetta, Harry Potter franchise).
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Fubu, and available for rental.
The Shape of Water (2017): Elisa Esposito works at a top-secret research facility in the 1960s, she creates a surprising relationship with an amphibious creature being held in captivity and it changes her life.
This film is critically acclaimed and is metaphor that love has no bounds. Although, not a horror film it pushes the boundaries and has some very scary moments! The Shape of Water was nominated for 13 Academy Awards in 2018 and won Best in Production Design, Original Score, Direction, and Best Picture. Starring Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, and you guessed it, the incomparable Doug Jones.
Streaming: FXNow, Fubo, DirecTV and available for rental.
Keep an eye out for Guillermo del Toro’s new feature film coming soon, Nightmare Alley. A story about a determined carny with a talent for manipulating people who entagles himself with a vixen of a psychiatrist that is even more treacherous than he is.
Starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchette, Rooney Mara, Willem Dafoe, Toni Colette and more. What an incredible cast! The film is set to be released in January of 2022!
Watch the trailer here.
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month!
We support Hispanic Owned Small Business. Chica Beauty was featured in the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2021 as the top #5 CEO of the year for diversity and inclusion! Mei-Lon and Toni Jimenez founded Chica Beauty because they have a vision of expanding the sisterhood which has empowered, lifted, and supported them.
At Chica Beauty, all of their products are made from recycled materials or from 100% recyclable materials. Generously, with every purchase, Chica Beauty donates to a rotating cast of stellar organizations through our Chica Gives Initiative. Go to chicabeauty.com!
Did we miss any of your favorites? Comment below or email us at contact@marriedtohorror.com! You can also follow our Facebook group Married to Horror and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @marriedtohorror.
Looking for more? Check out our List Section! You can also find more general Married to Horror selections by checking out our recommendations and take a peek at our Master Watch List where you can find an array of horror films sorted by title, platform, rating, and more!
