Guillermo del Toro Brings His Monsters to Life in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is about to be taken over by monsters — and it’s all thanks to Guillermo del Toro. The Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water is celebrating Halloween in the most fitting way possible: by curating a weeklong series of monster movies across the city. Starting October 26 and running through November 8, the American Cinematheque will host “Del Toro’s Monster Week,” featuring screenings of his favorite horror classics at Los Feliz 3 Theatre and the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.
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From the timeless terror of King Kong (1933) to the eerie beauty of Bride of Frankenstein (1935), the lineup pays homage to the monsters that have shaped cinematic history. Each selection was personally chosen by Del Toro as part of his lifelong fascination with what lies behind the inhuman. The screenings promise to transport audiences back to an era when horror was poetic, mysterious, and beautifully tragic. Tickets are priced at $10 for members and $15 for non-members — a small price for a journey into gothic imagination.
The grand finale of the festival will be an exclusive 35mm screening of Del Toro’s own Frankenstein , followed by a live Q&A with the director himself. Though the event is already sold out, fans are expected to line up in hopes of catching a seat or simply sharing the experience with one of cinema’s great modern storytellers. The film, starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth, reimagines Mary Shelley’s classic tale from the creature’s point of view. It premieres globally on Netflix on November 7.
For Del Toro, Frankenstein is far more than a horror story — it’s a deeply personal vision. He has described the monster as his “personal avatar,” ever since watching the 1931 version as a child in Mexico. In interviews, he’s explained that he saw in that creature both tragedy and revelation — even more spiritual meaning than he ever found in church sermons. His new adaptation blends that reverence with modern reflections, including a critique of scientific arrogance. He has even compared Victor Frankenstein’s blind ambition to that of today’s tech leaders, saying the character mirrors “tech bros creating something without considering the consequences.”
Del Toro’s passion for the gothic and his strong stance on creativity have also made headlines. When asked about artificial intelligence in filmmaking, he didn’t mince words — saying, “I’d rather die” than use generative AI. For him, storytelling must come from the soul, not from algorithms.
So this Halloween season, as Los Angeles flickers under the glow of silver screens, Guillermo del Toro is once again reminding us why monsters — in all their misunderstood glory — continue to haunt, move, and inspire us.
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