Following the success of horror series like The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher by Mike Flanagan, he’s now working with Amazon Studios. This leaves Netflix facing a challenge: how will they stay competitive in the horror genre? They might already have a plan, potentially using Guillermo del Toro’s work as a model for continuing to create original horror shows.
When it comes to horror, Mike Flanagan and Guillermo del Toro are two of the biggest names. Del Toro, known for critically acclaimed films like The Shape of Water and Pan’s Labyrinth, as well as his Netflix series Frankenstein, has a knack for bringing together chilling tales from top horror storytellers. His recent Netflix show, Cabinet of Curiosities, earned a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting it could be a long-running success for the streaming service.
Netflix’s Cabinet of Curiosities Is a Worthy Horror Anthology
Before Mike Flanagan’s lengthy series, most iconic horror shows on television used an anthology format – meaning each episode, and often each series, told a completely separate story. Shows like Tales from the Crypt, The Outer Limits, and Are You Afraid of the Dark? were structured like procedural dramas, with a new, self-contained story unfolding in around 45 minutes.
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities offers a similar experience to Tales from the Crypt, but with longer episodes and stunning visuals. Like Tales from the Crypt, which featured episodes directed by major Hollywood stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Zemeckis, Cabinet of Curiosities also utilizes a strategy of bringing in talented directors – though Del Toro focuses primarily on those already well-known for their work in horror.
The series featured talented horror directors who aren’t always household names. Among them were Jennifer Kent, known for The Babadook; Panos Cosmatos, director of Mandy; Catherine Hardwicke, who directed Twilight; and Guillermo Navarro, the cinematographer behind the stunning visuals in many of Del Toro’s movies.
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities feels very similar to Mick Garris’ Masters of Horror from 2000. Like that series, it’s an anthology featuring films by famous horror directors. Filmmakers such as John Carpenter, Stuart Gordon, Joe Dante, Tom Holland, and Dario Argento each brought their unique style, often delivering truly impressive episodes.
Guillermo del Toro Could Bring Bigger Horror Names to Netflix
Losing Mike Flanagan is a significant blow, particularly after the success of The Life of Chuck and his upcoming projects like a remake of The Mist and a series based on Stephen King’s The Dark Tower. However, Netflix is in good hands with Guillermo del Toro, who has just as much, if not more, influence with top directors and actors. This is especially true after Frankenstein earned him three Academy Awards and nine nominations overall.
Similar to how Hulu handled its Into the Dark series, Guillermo del Toro could improve Cabinet of Curiosities by making each episode a bit longer—almost like short films. This would establish it as a major horror showcase on Netflix. It’s a great opportunity for up-and-coming horror directors to gain experience with guidance from an Academy Award winner like Del Toro, and he could also collaborate with established filmmakers.
Netflix could really boost its appeal by partnering with top directors like Jordan Peele or James Wan for exclusive content. Attracting such talent would likely draw in major actors as well, and with Guillermo del Toro already on board, Netflix has a strong opportunity for success.
Many critically acclaimed Netflix shows struggle to get a second season, and this one is no different, despite positive reviews and good viewership. Guillermo del Toro has expressed enthusiasm, even offering to direct the first and last episodes, but a renewal hasn’t been confirmed yet. Given the success of Frankenstein, now is the perfect time for Netflix to capitalize on del Toro’s talent and his strong vision for horror.
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is available to stream on Netflix.
2026-07-27 23:37