The maestro of horror and suspense has proved his mettle once again with the engrossing anthology Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. The eight-part episode series is a perfect treat for Halloween 2022 and carries all the elements of a scary feast. Furthermore, if you have already binged watched all the episodes of the acclaimed show, then here are some of the best works of the Oscar-winning director.
1. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army is one of the best movie sequels that feels like a standalone flick on its own. The film encapsulates the continued adventures of the Hellboy and his team, in a fight against the evil army of Prince Nuada. It stars Ron Perlman in the leading role, with a screenplay from Guillermo himself.
The action-packed scenes of the film, along with a scary theme, make it one of the most entertaining watches out of del Toro’s filmography. Notably, the sequel came out in the year 2008 and is still regarded as much ahead of its time. You can stream the blockbuster movie on Netflix.
2. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Regarded as one of the most critically acclaimed foreign language films, Pan’s Labyrinth is a blend of myth and reality, that leads to the soul-satisfying junction. The story is set in 1944 when a young girl is drawn to her fantasy world, where she needs to prove her royalty and claim his position as the princess.
The film won numerous accolades including nominations for best original screenplay at the 79th Academy Awards. It stars Ivana Baquero, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil, Sergi Lopez, Maribel Verdu and others in titular roles, and is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
3. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
The Devil’s Backbone is one of the earliest works of the director, that will definitely remind you of Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. The plot of the movie revolves around Carlos, a 12-year-old boy, whose father gets executed, and is compelled to stay in an orphanage. However, there is something more about the pace than what meets eye.
The Spanish film was praised for the use of special effects and is also regarded as del Toro’s finest works. It stars Fernando Tielve in the leading role, along with Marisa Paredes, Federico Luppi and Eduardo Noriega. You can stream it on HBO Max.
4. The Shape of Water (2017)
If you feel that horrific monsters cannot be romanticized, you haven’t watched Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water. The two-hour and three minutes oscar-winning flick is definitely a class apart in terms of fantasy flicks. It tells the story of nurturing romance between an amphibian man (the monster) and Elisa, the lonely janitor.
The film has a prolific cast of Sally Hawkins, Doug Jones, Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins, Michael Shannon and Michael Stuhlbarg. Morever, it also won the best picture accolade at the 90th Academy Awards. You can stream the genre-bending film on Apple TV+.
5. Nightmare Alley (2021)
The thrilling drama layered with all the essentials of a del Toro movie stars Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett in the leading roles. Moreover, the plot of the movie is set around New York in the 1940s, where an ambitious man running down with his luck, meets a mentalist with a fatal attitude.
The film falls under the category of slow-burning drama, which reveals the true horror, layer by layer. Rooney Mara, Toni Collette, Paul Anderson and Ron Perlman also star in this neo-noir tale of thrill and suspense. You can stream it on Apple TV+.
Tell us your personal favourite Guillermo del Toro horror fest in the comment section below.
Also Read: Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities: 5 Most Terrifying Moments From Netflix Anthology Series