There is a lot to admire about this film. All things considered though, it just feels somewhat incomplete.
So this film is technically a horror. Naturally then the first question when one reflects on it would be whether or not it's scary (A question which is of course marred by the fact that fear is mostly subjective). I am no fan of horror, due primarily to the fact that I get spooked pretty easily. That being said, while this film might make some squirm with discomfort at the gruesome imagery, this film feels like it lands in the genre of horror more by default than by its own merits. If I were to judge this film purely on its ambition to frighten people then I don't think I'd really be able to heap much praise on it. I suppose I can only speak for myself, but given that I can't say I really experienced what I would consider fear, I doubt sincerely that people watching this film with the intention of getting spooked are going to feel very fulfilled.
All of those things in mind though, this is still a pretty decent film. It's clear that Guillermo del Toro had a strong vision for this film, and it gives the imagery a special quality. From the titular Cronos devise to the sterile room decorated with dangling arc angel statues, this film holds a lot of interest on the unique visuals alone. I don't know how much fear or dread he was trying to inspire with those images, but they certainly elicit a sense of curiosity and bizarreness which I think makes this film unique.
In a lot of ways this film feels like more of a mystery than a horror to me. Early on in the viewing whatever concern I had for potential horrors was replaced with a burning curiosity to know just what else del Toro's imagination could conjure up. In that way I found I could truly enjoy the film for what it was. I will say though, that I did find myself a bit disappointed by the end. Not because it wasn't scary enough or that something had necessarily gone wrong, but because by the time it reached its conclusion it felt as though the story hadn't reached its full potential. It didn't end prematurely. I do think though, that del Toro hints at a boundless imagination and I had just hoped that by the end he would've shared more of it.
Give it a shot. It's got Ron Pearlman.
So this film is technically a horror. Naturally then the first question when one reflects on it would be whether or not it's scary (A question which is of course marred by the fact that fear is mostly subjective). I am no fan of horror, due primarily to the fact that I get spooked pretty easily. That being said, while this film might make some squirm with discomfort at the gruesome imagery, this film feels like it lands in the genre of horror more by default than by its own merits. If I were to judge this film purely on its ambition to frighten people then I don't think I'd really be able to heap much praise on it. I suppose I can only speak for myself, but given that I can't say I really experienced what I would consider fear, I doubt sincerely that people watching this film with the intention of getting spooked are going to feel very fulfilled.
All of those things in mind though, this is still a pretty decent film. It's clear that Guillermo del Toro had a strong vision for this film, and it gives the imagery a special quality. From the titular Cronos devise to the sterile room decorated with dangling arc angel statues, this film holds a lot of interest on the unique visuals alone. I don't know how much fear or dread he was trying to inspire with those images, but they certainly elicit a sense of curiosity and bizarreness which I think makes this film unique.
In a lot of ways this film feels like more of a mystery than a horror to me. Early on in the viewing whatever concern I had for potential horrors was replaced with a burning curiosity to know just what else del Toro's imagination could conjure up. In that way I found I could truly enjoy the film for what it was. I will say though, that I did find myself a bit disappointed by the end. Not because it wasn't scary enough or that something had necessarily gone wrong, but because by the time it reached its conclusion it felt as though the story hadn't reached its full potential. It didn't end prematurely. I do think though, that del Toro hints at a boundless imagination and I had just hoped that by the end he would've shared more of it.
Give it a shot. It's got Ron Pearlman.