It’s no secret that I’m a pretty huge fan of Guillermo del Toro’s cinematic work, as well as his endless imagination and infectious enthusiasm for the world of genre films. There is perhaps no greater supporter out there for both the craftsmanship that goes into making horror and sci-fi movies and the rabid fandom that’s engrained into our very souls whenever we’re discussing our favorite movies with fellow fans (and even with non-fans, too), which is why del Toro has always been a standout presence to me ever since I first laid my eyes on Cronos while still in college in the late 1990s. Not only was he “one of us,” but he was also interested in making movies “for us,” and that hit me deep within my movie-loving soul.
So, when it was announced earlier this year that del Toro would be creating his “At Home with Monsters” exhibition—a celebration of his amazing filmography that has now spanned over 25 years, as well as a display of items and artifacts from his own personal collection of artwork and memorabilia—I knew there was no way I could possibly miss out on experiencing it.
The exhibit is currently on display in southern California at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) through the end of November, and then it will head to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and the Minneapolis Museum of Art (MIA) in coming months. If you happen to be even remotely close to either of those cities, I absolutely recommend checking out the endlessly fascinating “At Home with Monsters.” Anyone with even a remote interest in del Toro’s work, or even genre films in general, should undoubtedly enjoy themselves.
While I personally was looking forward to seeing Pan’s Labyrinth celebrated throughout “At Home with Monsters,” it was seeing del Toro, a former special effects artist himself, paying tribute to so many of the masters with various displays that quickly became my favorite aspect of the entire exhibit. The tribute to Son of Frankenstein was probably the piece I loved the most overall, but there was a great tribute to Ray Harryhausen and some of his best-known creations that also left a huge smile on my face. There were also an incredible amount of effects, maquettes, and various other key elements created by Legacy Effects for numerous del Toro projects that I spent a great deal of time fawning over as I made my way through the exhibit, and if you fancy yourself a Hellboy fan in particular, there is a lot here that you will enjoy being able to see for yourself.
I also thought it was interesting that del Toro included various items he’s collected from other films over the years (the fact that his own love of the genre was fostered years ago by Forrest J. Ackerman’s Famous Monsters of Filmland seems so perfect now, as del Toro has in some ways established himself as the next generation Forry with “At Home with Monsters”), including Phantom of the Paradise and Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, just to name a few. Also, being able to get so up close and personal with some of the artwork from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark was another highlight of the exhibit for me, because I grew up such a huge fan of that book series. But honestly, there was something for everyone here, making “At Home with Monsters” easily one of the best things I’ve had the chance to experience as a fan throughout all of 2016.
Check out the photo gallery I brought back from my recent visit to “At Home with Monsters,” and as I mentioned, if the exhibit happens to be coming your way in 2017, do NOT sleep on it if you get a chance to see it for yourself. It is the equivalent of horror nirvana.
Heather A. Wixson was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, until she followed her dreams and moved to Los Angeles in 2009. A 14-year veteran in the world of horror entertainment journalism, Wixson fell in love with genre films at a very early age, and has spent more than a decade as a writer and supporter of preserving the history of horror and science fiction cinema. Throughout her career, Wixson has contributed to several notable websites, including Fangoria, Dread Central, Terror Tube, and FEARnet, and she currently serves as the Managing Editor for Daily Dead, which has been her home since 2013. She's also written for both Fangoria Magazine & ReMind Magazine, and her latest book project, Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume One will be released on October 20, 2021.
Daily Dead's Official Podcast! Daily Dead's Official Podcast!
