Guillermo del Toro welcomes us into his legendary home office, a space so crammed with movie memorabilia, rare books, and handcrafted figurines that it feels like stepping into one of his films. The Mexican filmmaker, whose career spans horror, fantasy, animation, and drama, is in expansive and generous form as he discusses the creative obsessions that drive his work.
Why Monsters Matter
“I have always believed that monsters are the most honest characters in cinema,” del Toro begins, picking up a small sculpture of a creature from one of his films. “They do not hide what they are. They wear their nature on the outside. In that way, they are more truthful than most human characters.”
This philosophy has informed every one of del Toro’s films, from the haunting fairy tale of Pan’s Labyrinth to the grand spectacle of Pacific Rim to the tender romance of The Shape of Water. In each case, the monsters are not simply antagonists but complex beings that reflect human fears, desires, and contradictions.
The Craft of World-Building
Del Toro is famously meticulous about the worlds he creates on screen. He maintains detailed notebooks filled with drawings, color palettes, and narrative notes for every project, often working on these materials for years before production begins.
“A world must feel lived-in,” he explains. “The audience may never consciously notice the details, the texture of a wall, the design of a doorknob, the way light falls through a particular window, but they feel them. Those details accumulate into atmosphere, and atmosphere is everything.”
Looking Forward
Del Toro reveals that he currently has several projects in development, spanning multiple mediums and genres. He speaks with particular excitement about an animated film that he describes as the most personal work of his career, drawing on memories of his childhood in Guadalajara.
“I am 62 years old and I feel like I am just beginning to understand what I want to say,” he says with a warm laugh. “Every film teaches me something new. Every story opens doors I did not know existed. That is the gift of this life.”
