Interview with director Guillermo del Toro

We met with Guillermo del Toro at the 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival. We talked about his approach to storytelling, his artistic influences, and the themes that shape his films.

Reimagining Monsters with Humanity

Guillermo del Toro is renowned for creating monsters that evoke sympathy rather than mere terror. His fascination with the emotional depth of creatures is rooted in childhood encounters with classic horror and Japanese kaiju movies, where monsters like Godzilla transitioned from destructive forces to misunderstood beings. del Toro often stresses that his monsters symbolise broader human experiences such as loneliness, rejection, and the need for understanding. His films, including “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “The Shape of Water“, exemplify this approach by showcasing creatures that are tender, often suffering, and deeply human.

The Artistic Influences and Philosophical Foundations

The work of Guillermo del Toro is heavily influenced by visual arts, illustration, and literary classics, especially Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. del Toro often cites painting, comic art, and film pioneers like Hitchcock and Fellini as essential to his aesthetic development. His cinematic language is characterized by richly textured visuals, expressive composition, and deliberate use of color and sound to evoke emotion. These influences inform his storytelling, allowing him to craft films that are visually dense and narratively profound, echoing the philosophical depths present in Shelley’s novel, which del Toro admires for its exploration of creation and empathy.

Reflection on Career and Future Projects

Throughout his career, Guillermo del Toro has balanced homage and innovation, drawing from his personal history and artistic influences to develop unique films. Inspired by legendary directors like Hitchcock and Cronenberg, del Toro embraces creative risk, often advocating for artists to “scare themselves into being young.” His upcoming projects promise to continue pushing boundaries, exploring new themes and aesthetics while maintaining his signature depth and humanity. In reflecting on his body of work, it is clear that Guillermo del Toro’s exploration of monsters—both literal and metaphorical—is driven by a desire to understand and humanize the other, a perspective central to his identity as a filmmaker.