Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities episode two review
As the weeks go on and the thought of Halloween leaves the minds of most, Guillermo del Toro has arrived to deliver another memorable and jarring experience to his viewers through his new series Cabinet of Curiosities. As each episode continues, the anthology continuously delivers, ramping up the stakes and offering a unique directing experience that will stick with most viewers. Vincenzo Natali, the director of this episode, uses several camera angles and color pallets to create a distinct experience from what was offered in the first episode. This is an overall more enjoyable episode than the first, offering viewers a lot more when it comes to storytelling and protagonist relatability. Before I go any further, this remarkable experience will keep you engaged throughout the sixty-minute runtime—so beware, there are minor spoilers ahead!
Episode two, titled “Graveyard Rats,” like the first episode, focuses on a man named Masson, who is looking to repay his debts. From what I can infer, this takes place around the 18th to early 19th-century in the archaic past of Massachusetts. Masson is a gravedigger, a man entrusted with burying the dead, protecting the corpses and all they are buried with from anyone willing to unearth their tombs. Unfortunately, and a bit ironically, Masson steals from the people he’s supposed to be watching over, taking anything from gold teeth to jewelry—whatever he can get his hands on. Though this seems to be a very low-brow tactic, viewers will sympathize with the man, at least more than the protagonist of the first episode, not wanting him to meet the same fate due to his characterization and overall humorous mannerisms.
Musson is a well-spoken man, talking in a highly sophisticated manner which almost seems straight out of a Shakespeare play, adding to the overall tone and atmosphere created by the environment around him. He’s a man who’s been down on his luck, just trying to get by in whatever way he can, no matter how corrupt it may seem. During one of his nightly rounds as a gravedigger, he encounters a rat trying to get at a corpse; these rats will be a constant throughout the remainder of the story.
This is an episode that a viewer should experience in full without any indication of what comes next; therefore, I’ll not press any further. This segment is expertly crafted, offering viewers an experience bound to leave them deeply unnerved. The director uses camera angles, tight spaces, and computer-generated images to create a bone-chilling final act that makes you unsure of what’s coming next. The overall atmosphere, tone, and use of shadow in this episode amount to a praise-worthy final product that will unnerve even the strongest-willed horror viewers. This episode is exceptional and fun to watch throughout but has moments of deeply unsettling imagery. This is better than the one that came before it and significantly more memorable, making me want to give this one a rating of 10/10.
This was, without a doubt, a viewing experience that is not only unique but effective and efficient in presenting its story and characterization. Regardless, this could be perceived as too much for some viewers, especially those with a weaker stomach; however, this offers a lot more scares and thrills than the episode that preceded it, making this a much more enjoyable watch for seasoned horror fans.