REVIEW | Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (2022)
“ — one of those nightmare specials… the kind you never get to the bottom of.”
A keyhole-sized view into the wild, wicked, and wonderous mind of Guillermo del Toro.
Step into the enigmatic and enveloping world of Oscar-winning director, Guillermo del Toro, as he presents 8 haunting stories with the help of acclaimed Horror creators and storytellers of the modern era. From ancient evils to inner demons, cursed artefacts and celestial encounters — nothing can prepare you for what’s in store in his Cabinet of Curiosities.
*Minor spoilers for Cabinet of Curiosities ahead*
Now, it would be quick and easy to label this as a simple “Horror” show (and you wouldn’t be egregiously wrong to say so, either). But that would also be a disservice to the reputation of Guillermo del Toro’s signature style and flair for gothic fantasy.
Although the genre and treatment appear familiar enough — you’ll be delighted to know that the concepts, storytelling, and of course… the creatures involved are nothing short of a revitalisation for modern cinematic Horror.
No tale of “Good versus Evil”, no traditional heroes or diabolical villains — just a comfortable view into the brutal, yet beautiful balance of humanity (and the myriad of mythology and mysticism that comes with it).
On top of that, the deliberate plot gaps and question marks that contribute to the inherent mystery of each story are a welcome change to the usual hand-holding and spoon-feeding plot.
Instead of giving everything an explanation, labelling phenomenas, or succumbing to the obligation for narrative closure — the series exclusively plays by its own rules and wastes no time in letting you know you’re in their house from the moment you hit “Play”.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so curious now, would it?
Whether it’s tales of morality, Folklore 101, or just watercooler chat — there’s more than enough to dissect in any of the 8 stories that fill the cabinet. Carefully curated to bewitch your fascination , while also leaving you unsettled from the possibilities of any one of the fables coming to life.
With a +50min runtime, each entry does an excellent job of establishing the world and mapping out the stakes, before upsetting that preface with a terrifying idea that sits at the heart of each story. You may have a favourite “episode” once you’re finished — but by no means does that indicate any weak links in the cabinet.
They perfectly resemble classic ghost stories told around a campfire — the ones that gives you goosebumps as it stokes your morbid curiosity.
Thanks to del Toro’s wealth of knowledge surrounding the occult, the mythical, and the supernatural — every episode is a sensory journey into the known [and unknown] horrors that often plague our subconscious (and I mean that in the best way possible).
As such, you can expect a catalogue of ghoulish beasts, dormant demons, and everything in-between as you unravel each story scene-by-scene. And thankfully, the showrunners aimed for the stars when it came to bringing the most visually arresting, disturbingly detailed, and borderline-original creatures to life.
Often by practical means — if not exclusively.
While films like Crimson Peak (2015) and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) only exhibits a fraction of how profound and nightmarish the monsters of del Toro’s imaginations can be — Cabinet of Curiosities actively dials up the creature department to eleven (and doesn’t let up).
Although Guillermo del Toro is more commonly known for his incredibly imaginative films, the anthology format helps to refract the the lens that peeks into his mindscape to showcase a broader view of his phyche.
A treatment that brings The French Dispatch (2021) to mind — Wes Anderson’s kaleidoscopic series of isolated-yet-connected stories that sits under the same plot umbrella. Ultimately giving viewers a narrative Smörgåsbord that’s prepared by the same visionary director.
There’s also something to be said about including seasoned thespians like Peter Weller and F. Murray Abraham(among others) to embody unlikely, yet captivating characters.
A decision that resulted in mitigating the distraction of headline talents, and placing more focus on the living, breathing world placed before us.
And at the very least, it’s certainly a refreshing alternative to typecasting patterns of old. Like the example of Sir Anthony Hopkins’ remarkable portrayal of Hannibal that has subsequently echoed into his other work like a bittersweet curse.
In closing — Cabinet of Curiosities poses the notion that the Horror genre needn’t be brutal, gruesome, and ruthless in execution (no pun intended).
In fact, it supposes that the genre is capable of teaching the same lessons, evoking the same emotions, and pondering the same provocative ideas as any other film or genre can — with the right approach.
Hence, the best way I can describe how the series succeeds against conventional Horror stories is by likening it to spicy food.
Some people can’t handle them, others enjoy the sensation it gives them, and it’s also evolved into a contest of extremities with the popularity of Ghost Peppers and Hot Wings.
But here, Guillermo del Toro focuses on extracting the unique flavours that can come from spiciness — paired with the goal of activating your palate for a more impactful and compelling experience.
So, if there’s ever a time to get into hot food, you can rely on del Toro’s cabinet of tasteful horrors for the most flavourful spices worth trying.
