Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities is an eight-episode horror anthology series created by the Mexican director of The Shape of Water, Pinocchio, and Pan's Labyrinth, among others. Del Toro himself hosts each episode, in the style of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. It's very gory, with grotesque scenes, decomposing bodies, nasty-looking monsters, and jump scares. The stories deal with greedy characters, dominated by selfishness and grief, who encounter ghosts and monsters. There's also frequent use of words including "f--k," "s--t," "a--hole," and "goddamn." Like most of Del Toro's filmography, this series has high quality production values and is very well written and acted but is definitely not for young/sensitive viewers.
Community Reviews
Cannibalism
Report this review
Not for children: Adults only
Report this review
What's the Story?
Created by the director of Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES is an eight-episode horror anthology series. It showcases the talents of some of the most respected directors in the horror genre, including Jennifer Kent (The Babadook), Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night), Vincenzo Natali (Cube), Panos Cosmatos (Mandy) and Guillermo Navarro, among others. Del Toro wrote only two episodes, but they all have his stamp: supernatural elements, gothic environments, grotesque and creepy beings. Expect ghost stories, sinister cults (echoes of H.P. Lovecraft), memorable monsters and a lot of suspense.
Is It Any Good?
This horror series is terrifying and disturbing, with memorable monsters and nightmare-inducing scares. In Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities follow in the footsteps of Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles and becomes the host and presenter of the eight-episode anthology. Faithful to the filmography of the Mexican director, with his taste for body horror, gothic environments, and grotesque monsters, this is a very graphic series in its violence, not suitable for young teens or sensitive adults. The stories in the Cabinet of Curiosities are very well written and directed, feature racially diverse casts, and are gripping and arouse genuine dread. It's a worthy -- if far more graphic -- successor to other television horror anthologies, such as The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why the characters behave as they do. Do they act with good or bad intentions?
How do you think Guillermo del Toro shows the monsters in the series? Are they good creatures, in the style of Hellboy or The Shape of Water, or are they dark beings with no redeemable traits?
Do you know other anthology TV series? What is a TV anthology? What are the advantages or disadvantages of creating a series with different stories in each episode?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 25, 2022
- Cast: Ben Barnes, F. Murray Abraham, Geena Davis, Tim Blake Nelson
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Space and Aliens
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: December 1, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Pan's Labyrinth
Brilliant, poignant fairy tale isn't for kids.
-
Crimson Peak
Lots of blood, ghosts in highly stylized gothic chiller.
-
The Outer Limits
Thought-provoking sci-fi tales for tweens and up.
For kids who love horror
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate