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Writer's pictureMatthew O'Regan

Guillermo Del Toro aesthetics

Guillermo Del Toro, the director of numerous famous films, including Pan's Labyrinth, 2006. Guillermo Del Toro’s knack for impressive visual imagery was there from the very start. His early Spanish features, Cronos and The Devil’s Backbone, both already showcased his talent to fill the frame with remarkable imagery however when he went to the States and his budgets began to grow, this is when we really began to see what he was capable of. Pan's Labyrinth, the haunting creepy adult fairy tale has become a benchmark from its nightmarish and fantastical imagery. What really makes this movie besides the plot, the acting and outstanding make-up effects is the scenery and the wonderful set design. Eugenio Caballero helped to take director Guillermo del Toro’s vision and turn it into a sumptious reality.



Mis-en-scene playing a vital role in Del Toros aesthetic. The majority of the film is very dark, reminiscent to the story’s dark plot. The mystical world alters the lighting and set design. Instead of cooler, blue hues, the lighting appears to have warmer, yellow tones, making it feel safer even though Ofelia is in just as much danger in this world  as she is in the real world. Overall the film has a dark, mystical aesthetic



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1 Comment


Matthew O'Regan
Matthew O'Regan
Oct 08, 2018

I am impressed that you researched the designer of the film and provided some nice contextual information for your post. You have identified some very interesting points regarding the contrasting aesthetic styles used in the film and this will prepare you for our study of the film.

I would like you to explore the inspirations behind this aesthetic. Please look in to the following topics and explore how they influenced Pan's Labyrinth. These are some of the topics we will cover in our study of this film's aesthetic:


Francisco Goyer's 'Saturn Devouring His Son' (this is a shocking painting!)


https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=francisco+goya%27s+paintings&rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB539GB539&oq=francisco+goya%27s+&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l5.12191j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8


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