The first look at del Toro’s cabinet of curiosities is magically macabre

Halloween may be furthest on people’s minds in the dog days of August, but a new first-look teaser for Netflix’s new anthology series, Guillermo del Toro .’s Cabinet of Curiosities-plus the release of several simultaneously beautiful and horrifying images – bring us in a lot more frisson-searching state of mind. No one does horror like del Toro and this anthology seems very worthy of its reputation.

First announced in 2018, the series features eight episodes written and directed by filmmakers handpicked by del Toro. “In this anthology, we’ve given ownership of every episode to the directors,” he says in the first teaser. “Each of the episodes has a whole world. They offer you different treats. Some are savory, some are sweet. You get a surprise from each of the appetizers.”

The list of directors includes Jennifer Kent, who directed the phenomenal 2014 film The Babadook; her episode, “The Murmuring”, is based on an original story by del Toro and includes: babadook star, Essie Davis (aka Miss Fisher). “Dreams in the Witch House”, based on a short story by HP Lovecraft, is directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Lords of Dogtown, Twilight).

“Graveyard Rats” is directed by Vincenzo Natali (In the tall grass, Splice), while Guillermo Navarro (Narcos) directed “Lot 36”, also based on an original story by del Toro. Kees Thomas (fire starter) directed “Pickman’s Model”, another episode based on a Lovecraft short story; David Prior (the empty man) directed “The Autopsy”; panos cosmos (Mandy) directed “The Viewing”; and Ana Lily Amirpour, who directed the exquisite A girl walks home alone at night-directed “The Outside.”

That’s quite a range of voices and artistic styles, complemented by a star-studded cast that includes Rupert Grint, Ben Barnes, Crispin Glover, Peter Weller, Kate Micucci, Nia Vardalos, David Hewlett, Demetrius Grosse, Sebastian Roche, F. Murray Abraham, Hannah Galway, Steve Agee and Michael Therrialt, among others.

The fact that the series also features the kind of stunningly atmospheric visual effects that Del Toro is known for is the icing on the cake. “We wanted to create beautiful practical creatures with all the craftsmanship needed to create a great monster,” says del Toro in the teaser. “We’ve created some of the most remarkable images in the series. With Cabinet of Curiositieswhat I’m trying to say is, ‘Look, the world is beautiful and horrible at the same time.’

Guillermo del Toro .’s Cabinet of Curiosities will be released on Netflix during a four-day event. Two episodes will be released on October 25, 2022, and two more episodes will be released each day through October 28, 2022.

List image by Netflix