Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Cronos’ Returns in 4K at Sundance

Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is taking a breather from spruiking his latest Frankenstein flick to revisit the film that kicked off his career. His first feature, the early ‘90s vampire tale Cronos, is getting a fresh 4K restoration and will be shown at the Sundance Film Festival as part of the Park City Legacy programme. Del Toro himself is lined up to attend the screening on 27 January, followed by a Q&A where punters can pick his brain about the cult classic.

Park City Legacy Programme: Celebrating Festival Favourites

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cronos has been added to the festival’s section dedicated to revisiting standout films from previous years. The film originally screened at Sundance back in 1994, sharing the spotlight with the likes of Clerks, Reality Bites, Hoop Dreams, and Four Weddings and a Funeral. The Park City Legacy programme is all about giving audiences another crack at seeing iconic titles that have graced the festival before, now spruced up with digital restorations. This year’s line-up, running from 27 to 30 January, also features Little Miss Sunshine, Half Nelson, Mysterious Skin, and Saw, among others.

‘Cronos’: A Fresh Take on Vampire Lore

While Cronos technically fits the bill as a vampire film, it’s a far cry from the usual fare of seductive bloodsuckers and helpless victims. Del Toro’s approach digs much deeper, weaving in mythological threads and giving the genre a thoughtful twist. The story centres on an antique dealer who stumbles upon a mysterious artefact, unwittingly turning himself into a vampire. Sure, he gets the perk of eternal youth, but it comes with a nasty craving for blood. As he wrestles with his new urges, he’s also forced to fend off those desperate to reclaim the ancient object and its powers.

The Rotten Tomatoes synopsis puts it like this:

Antique dealer Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi) stumbles across Cronos, a 400-year-old scarab that, when it latches onto him, grants him youth and eternal life – but also a thirst for blood. As Jesús enjoys his newfound vitality, he's unaware that a dying old man, Dieter de La Guardia (Claudio Brook), has sent his nephew, Angel (Ron Perlman), to find the scarab and bring it back to him. But Jesús will not give immortality up easily, even risking the life of his orphan granddaughter (Tamara Shanath).

Del Toro’s Debut: A Standout in Horror

Cronos marked a strong start for del Toro, who quickly showed he had a knack for horror. More than three decades on, the film still stands out for its unique spin on the vampire genre, making viewers feel for the monsters lurking in the shadows. It’s a real departure from the more formulaic horror films of the ‘90s, offering a character-driven story that has you rooting for the so-called villain.