Cronos
Seen it?1993 | 94 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (91% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and horror fans. If you loved The Picture of Dorian Gray or Seconds, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Scary.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 34 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- It's in Spanish, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.7 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
1 win and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a modest audience
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 269K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
- Federico LuppiJesus Gris
- Ron PerlmanAngel de la Guardia
- Claudio BrookDe la Guardia
- Margarita IsabelMercedes
- Tamara ShanathAurora
- Mario Iván MartínezAlchemist
- Daniel Giménez CachoTito
- Farnesio de BernalManuelito
- Juan Carlos ColomboFuneral Director
- Jorge Martínez de HoyosNarrator (voice)