One of the stars of Cronos,
Ron Perlman, sees the director as something of an artistic mentor, and
joined the cast of Blade II at del Toro's behest.
"Guillermo called me,"
says Perlman, "and said he'd like to write a part into the film just
for me. I said, 'Don't threaten me!"
Filming in Cronos
in 1993 was an eye-opening experience for Perlman, who was so influenced
by del Toro's independence and artistry that he's now producing films
himself.
"Guillermo has a huge
impact on me. Cronos is one of the most elegant vampire films
you'll ever see. He brought elegance and a sophistication to the danger
and sexuality of the vampire genre."
Perlman thinks the director
has imbued Blade II with a touch of that elegance, noting that
del Toro's "visual sense is singular. He's off the charts as far as
creativity."