In a recent interview with Joshua Horowitz for the show Happy Sad Confused, Guillermo del Toro expressed his admiration for video games, considering them a legitimate artistic medium that influences his cinematic vision. Throughout the conversation, he highlighted titles such as BioShock, Death Stranding, Metal Gear, Left 4 Dead, Red Dead Redemption, God of War, and Shadow of the Colossus, describing them as reflections of his narrative and aesthetic obsessions.
A man with excellent taste
Del Toro highlighted how games like BioShock present a blend of beauty and grotesque, resonating with the aesthetic of his own films, such as Pan’s Labyrinth and Crimson Peak, where the duality between the sublime and the macabre evokes a deep emotion. This notion of exploring complex themes, such as loneliness and human connection, is also found in Death Stranding, where the narrative revolves around the construction of emotional and physical bridges, a recurring theme in the director’s filmography.
The Metal Gear saga, of which he is a staunch admirer, also connects with his work through the dilemma between personal destiny and institutional manipulation. Del Toro reflects in his characters the same type of anguish found in Kojima’s games, where internal struggle and moral decisions are crucial. Likewise, his choice of Left 4 Dead highlights his interest in group dynamics in chaotic situations, a theme he has explored in several of his films.
Finally, the majesty and poetic tone of Shadow of the Colossus resonate with his appreciation for the tragic in the characters and creatures that inhabit its stories, showing that for Del Toro, video games are not mere distractions, but extensions of his creativity and reflections on the human condition.
