Today Guillermo del Toro turns 50, so to celebrate the birth of one of modern masters of sci-fi and fantasy we give you eight films that he’s helmed. So enjoy, and if you get the chance watch one or two of his films, you shouldn’t be disappointed.
Guillermo del Toro’s first feature film was the 1993 vampire horror film Cronos. The film centers around a scarab-shaped mechanical device that holds many secrets. This is also the first time Ron Perlman and Guillermo worked together, since Cronos they’ve been consistent collaborators.
Guillermo del Toro’s second film was the 1997 sci-fi thriller Mimic. The focus of the film is a new breed of cockroach that has adapted to modern day New York subways. If you love insects then this won’t be as scary.
In 2001 Guillermo del Toro made the horror film The Devil’s Backbone. In this film we watch as a young boy moves into an orphanage and starts to encounter a ghostly being. This will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat.
Blade II was lucky enough to get Guillermo to direct, he didn’t make the first one, that was Stephen Norrington, although he would have been perfect for that film too. If you were looking for a series that he was perfect for it would be Blade, and well the next movie on the list.
Guillermo del Toro breathed life into the Hellboy comics. He made the perfect comic book movie, keeping true to the comic roots while adding the perfect amount of grit when necessary. It would have been really interesting to see him take on The Avengers.
Considering how family friendly Hellboy was, Pan’s Labyrinth was the perfect follow up film. This movie entered the twisted mind of a poor child coping with living through the Spanish Civil War. This is a story where no one wins, except the viewer who gets to experience a fantastically dark tale.
If you were making the sequel to the enormously popular film Hellboy, who would you like to direct? The correct answer is Guillermo del Toro, the man, the myth, the legend. Hellboy II: The Golden Army picks up where the original left off. He’s also signed on to make the third film in the series, so don’t get your hopes up but it’s going to be awesome.
His most recent film, and maybe most popular, is Pacific Rim. I don’t think I can tell you anything about this film that you don’t know already, it’s that freaking popular. It’s a spiritual successor to the Godzilla franchise, I mean after all of those monsters what would humanity’s response be? It could be giant robots.
