Hey there, horror fans!
This week, I’ll be looking at a favourite Director/Producer of mine, Guillermo del Toro.
So grab a cuppa, sit back and let’s take a (crimson) peak.
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Name: Guillermo del Toro Gómez
Born: October 9, 1964
Del Toro has made a name for himself as a jack-of-all-trades. A Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Make-Up Supervisor, and Novelist, it seems that there’s few things he can’t do.
Raised by a strict catholic family, del Toro fell in love with filmmaking in his teens. Whilst studying at a film college in Guadalajara, he was presented with the opportunity to study special effects and make-up with the legendary Dick Smith (The Exorcist, Scanners) and spent the following 10yrs working as a makeup designer. This was where he formed his first company, Necropia. Later on, after taking to the directing route, he formed his own production company – The Tequila Gang.
His work is famed for its dark fantasy and fairy-tale horror. His lifelong fascination with monsters, teamed with his catholic upbringing has resulted in some stunning visual pieces that include religious and insectile imagery. His filmography covers a wide variety of films from comic book adaptions, historical fantasy and outright horror. Not to mention his most recent offering, Pacific Rim, which was just damn good fun.
Del Toro: the Director – His Spanish language films are where my love for him began. Cronos, the Devil’s Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth are beautifully constructed pieces of art that delve in to both politics and our obsession with immortality.
In a more Hollywood vein, Hellboy, Blade II and Pacific Rim are both visual stunning and show a director who truly enjoys what he is doing.
Pan’s Labyrinth, Pacific Rim and Hellboy
Del Toro: The Producer – There are probably quite a few films that you’ve seen without even realising del Toro had any hand in them (Kung Fu Panda 2 and Puss in Boots, for example)
The ones that show a clear del Toro influence visually are based in the horror genre. The Orphanage (a heart-breaking tale of loss that I recommend everyone watch), Julia’s Eyes and Mama. We’re not going to mention Splice. I did not like Splice.
Del Toro: The Writer – I’ll be honest and say that I’ve not read any of The Strain Trilogy. With the shocking amount of unread books I already own, I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. But I will. The stories are based on the idea of vampires as parasites that introduce an incurable and fast-acting virus in to the host’s genes. If you like vampire fiction with a more scientific edge, this is the series for you. Don’t enjoy reading (you weirdo) then fear not, a TV series is on its way!
In closing, and this is further evidence that del Toro is more than worthy of your time, since 2006 he’s been trying to get a screenplay based on Lovecraft’s At The Mountains of Madness green lit. A seemingly impossible feat but one that, if realised, has the potential to be epic.
What’s your favourite del Toro work?
Let me know in the comments!
Laters xx
The Dunwich Blogger 