Faced with his own mortality, an ingenious alchemist tried to perfect an invention that would provide him with the key to eternal life. It was called the Cronos device. When he died more than 400 years later, he took the secrets of this remarkable device to the grave with him. Now, an elderly antiques dealer has found the hellish machine hidden in a statue and learns about its incredible powers. The more he uses the device, the younger he becomes...but nothing comes without a price. Life after death is just the beginning as this nerve-shattering thriller unfolds and the fountain of youth turns bloody.
Direction
Del Toro's debut already knows exactly who he is.
Practical Effects
The Cronos device: beautiful, disgusting, plausible.
Acting
Federico Luppi's gentle dignity anchors the grotesque.
Director
Guillermo del Toro
Federico Luppi
Jesus Gris
Ron Perlman
Angel de la Guardia
Claudio Brook
De la Guardia
Margarita Isabel
Mercedes
Tamara Shanath
Aurora
Mario Iván Martínez
Alchemist
Daniel Giménez Cacho
Tito
Farnesio de Bernal
Manuelito
Juan Carlos Colombo
Funeral Director
Jorge Martínez de Hoyos
Narrator (voice)
Guillermo del Toro
Man Walking Dog (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Del Toro funded this partly by his own production company, using money meant for his house. He literally chose cinema over shelter.
This is the first of three collaborations between del Toro and Ron Perlman — their friendship began here, with Perlman doing the role as a favor for scale.
MX
