Guillermo del Toro is a Mexican filmmaker and author. He has had astounding success with some of his darkest works, whether he was writing, directing, producing, or doing all at once for a given project. He is known for Pan's Labyrinth, a dark fantasy, and The Shape Of Water, a fantasy romance.
Though del Toro has worked on various projects, his focus is on darker themes, and he's known for his unique, creepy takes on various genres. While he's had success with his horror films, creating some of the most disturbing and thought-provoking content in the genre, he is also well-known in the thriller and fantasy genres. Regardless of the genre, Guillermo del Toro's work is known as some of the darkest films in cinema.
9 Nightmare Alley Is A Thriller Adventure Into A Dark World
Nightmare Alley was a big endeavor for Guillermo del Toro, who directed the movie as well as helped write and produce it. The storyline follows a down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle who encounters a couple with psychic powers that lead him down the path to success through dangerous cons.
Though Nightmare Alley is either loved or despised by viewers, it has been positively reviewed by most critics. While this noir story isn't as dark as some of del Toro's other films, it's as dark as thrillers can get, with the addition of clairvoyant powers that heighten the suspense of the plot.
8 Del Toro's Darker Pinocchio Surpassed Disney's New Rendition
Though Disney recently released a live-action Pinocchio, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio received substantially better reviews than the other version. Critics found del Toro's Pinocchio to be a perfect example of how a creator that leans towards dark themes can develop a classic tale into something both appropriate for younger audiences and still darker than the original.
This version of the wooden boy that goes on a journey to be a real boy still captures the storyline fans know and love, but does so with the beautiful, detailed imagery only possible through the skilled craftsmanship of a stop-motion animated film. Pinocchio isn't nearly as dark as del Toro's other work, but it still reflects the work he's known for.
7 Mimic Is A Creepy Sci-Fi That Still Holds Up
del Toro helped write and directed Mimic, a thriller science-fiction that developed a cult following and a few sequels. The movie follows an evolutionary biologist and her associates in New York City who rush to stop a cockroach-spread disease that afflicts children.
While Mimic isn't unlike many other creature features with a similar plot, many critics agree that the story overall was more successful than others like it. This classic sci-fi horror isn't nearly as dark as many of del Toro's other projects but still manages to use creepy crawly creatures to send shivers down the audience's spines.
6 The Devil's Backbone Is A New Kind Of Ghost Story
The Devil's Backbone features a child protagonist, but the dark themes and scenes make it far from being a children's movie. In this dark thriller, ten-year-old Carlos loses his father and arrives at an orphanage for children of the Republican politicians and militia. Living at this school/orphanage, Carlos encounters youthful spirits.
Though this movie is more restrained compared to the other dark films del Toro helped create, The Devil's Backbone features the Spanish Civil War, a setting that del Toro has also used in other films. In this way, he's able to incorporate morbid settings and politics into a grim ghost story.
5 Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark Explores A Dark Realm
Guillermo del Toro helped produce and write Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark. This horror flick focuses on a young girl who moves into a mansion her dad is renovating with his spouse. When she goes exploring, she accidentally unleashes dark creatures with malevolent intent for her family.
While many of del Toro's films have dark themes, this movie is far more into the realm of horror movies with its dark spirits, creepy scenes, and foreboding plot. Many of his works incorporate children into the main plot or as the central character, which seems to add to the suspense and terror of the overall tone.
4 Antlers Hits The Gory Mark
Antlers is one of Guillermo del Toro's newer flicks, and this one is deep into the realm of creepy, bloody horror movies. In this story, a middle school teacher and her sheriff brother have to contend with her troubled student. This leads them to encounter terrifying creatures tied to legendary, dark creatures.
This horror movie is more terrifying than many of del Toro's other projects, though some critics suggest this outright terror takes away from a more complex storyline. Antlers leave the mystery unsolved by the end, which is unlike many of his other films but offers a foreboding tone.
3 Pan's Labyrinth Creates A Chilling Dark Fantasy World
Pan's Labyrinth is considered Guillermo del Toro's masterpiece, receiving wildly positive reviews from critics and audiences who couldn't get enough of this dark fantasy world. Though the themes were dark enough to leave viewers on the edge of their seats with each new plot twist, they led to a bittersweet ending.
Taking place during the Spanish Civil War, this story also focuses on a young girl, Ofelia, but touches upon mature themes. In addition to the dark tone of the alternate fantasy world alongside the real world, the movie tackles important social issues, such as gender inequality.
2 Crimson Peak Is A Spooky Period Horror
Crimson Peak is a historical horror movie and is another film del Toro directed as well as helped write and produce. This movie focuses on Edith after she marries Sir Thomas Sharpe and moves into his family's gothic mansion in the English countryside. While at this mansion, Edith encounters ghosts haunting the halls that lead her to uncover the startling Sharpe family secrets.
Though this film has received mixed reviews, it continues to be one of del Toro's scariest horror movies. What makes this movie so overwhelmingly spooky in every way is the nearly over-the-top gothic fashion spread throughout the entire film.
1 Mama Is A Truly Disturbing Story From Beginning To End
Guillermo del Toro's involvement was less substantial in Mama, with him acting as an executive producer. However, Mama succeeded in producing a chilling story about a creature that is not entirely a monster or spirit.
In this story, two girls are recovered after going missing five years prior following the death of their parents. However, as their uncle and his spouse try to acclimate the children to normal life, they begin to believe the mysterious Mama the girls whisper of is more real than imaginary. While this film didn't receive positive reviews from many critics, it was truly unsettling for many viewers.