When we think of modern dark fantasy cinema, few names stand out like Guillermo del Toro. His storytelling has always drawn us into worlds that feel both familiar and mythical. Whether it’s the haunting innocence of ‘Pan’s Labyrinth‘ or the twisted fairy tale of ‘Pinocchio,’ del Toro’s work speaks to that part of us that still believes monsters can be both terrifying and misunderstood.
Across his career, del Toro has explored the way innocence survives in brutal worlds. His films often ask what it means to be human when monsters seem more compassionate than people. Here are five films that stood out remarkably, according to fans and critics.
5. The Shape of Water (2017) – IMDb 7.3
In this romantic fantasy, a mute woman forms a bond with a mysterious amphibious creature held captive by the government. What could have been a monster movie becomes a tender love story about acceptance and freedom. Del Toro reminds us that love can bloom in the most unexpected places and that the real monsters are often those who fear difference.
4. The Devil’s Backbone (2001) – IMDb 7.4
Before Pan’s Labyrinth, del Toro gave us The Devil’s Backbone, a ghost story set in a Spanish orphanage during wartime. The film utilizes the supernatural not as a horror element, but as a mirror to human cruelty. The ghost of a murdered boy lingers, not for revenge, but for truth. It is a story that teaches us that sometimes the dead only haunt us because the living have forgotten them.
3. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) – IMDb 7.6
Unlike traditional adaptations, this version of Pinocchio unfolds during Mussolini’s Italy, tying the puppet’s journey to themes of obedience, grief, and individuality. Del Toro employs stop-motion animation to imbue every frame with texture and life, evoking the imperfections of wood, loss, and love. It is not just a story about a boy who wants to be real; it is about a father learning to accept his son as he is.
2. Frankenstein (2025) – IMDb 7.8
Del Toro’s long-awaited Frankenstein reimagines Mary Shelley’s classic through his own visual language. Rather than focusing on terror, he explores the loneliness of creation and the blurred line between creator and creation. With his signature gothic tone and emotional weight, del Toro turns this familiar story into a reflection on how we define humanity and who deserves compassion.
1. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) – IMDb 8.2
Set in post-Civil War Spain, Pan’s Labyrinth follows young Ofelia as she escapes into a mysterious labyrinth ruled by ancient creatures. The film balances harsh reality with fantasy, illustrating how imagination serves as a refuge during violent times. The faun, the Pale Man, and the labyrinth itself are all reflections of a child trying to survive under tyranny. It is a story that leaves us wondering whether Ofelia’s world was real or merely her way of coping.
