Guillermo del Toro, the acclaimed Mexican director, is in England to receive a BFI fellowship and hunt for a haunted house. In an interview, he discusses his fascination with ghosts, monsters, and the mysteries of the universe.
A Lifelong Fascination with the Supernatural
Del Toro has believed in ghosts since age 11, when he sensed his late uncle's presence. This experience inspired the sighing ghost-boy in The Devil's Backbone. He also saw a UFO at 14, which he describes as 'a crack' that lets the mystery of the universe rush in. Now, he plans to buy a haunted house in the UK for his collection of silicone figures.
The BFI Fellowship and British Cinema
The BFI fellowship honours Del Toro's work, influenced by British cinema legends like Powell, Pressburger, Ken Russell, and Hammer Films. His new adaptation of Frankenstein, starring Jacob Elordi as the Creature, draws on Terence Fisher's delicate portrayals.
Monsters and Humanity
Del Toro sees monsters as misunderstood beings, capable of both tenderness and violence, much like humans. He identifies more with monsters than superheroes. Taylor Swift, a fan of The Shape of Water and Pan's Labyrinth, referenced his imagery in her song 'Anti-Hero'.
Overcoming Adversity
The Weinsteins nearly destroyed his career after Mimic, but Del Toro persevered. He refused many franchise offers, including Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia, to stay true to his artistic vision.
Current Projects and Future Plans
After completing Frankenstein, Del Toro is working on a stop-motion adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's The Buried Giant, an R-rated film without songs. He aims to push the medium with 'inefficient' micro-gestures for realism.
Del Toro reflects on regret and the purpose of art, citing Soderbergh's view that art may not prevent genocide but can correct lives by small degrees. He cherishes the mystery of cinema and hopes it never fades.
Cronos is re-released in cinemas from 15 May, and a season of Del Toro's films runs at BFI Southbank, London, until 31 May.
