Geometria (film)

Lore & Background

The film follows a Mexican widow who receives a letter from her son's high school, informing her that he is about to fail geometry for the third time. After she berates him, the boy resorts to black magic, reading from a tome that instructs him to draw a pentagon with his own blood for protection. He summons a demon and asks for two wishes: to never fail geometry again and to resurrect his father, who died three months earlier. The demon grants the second wish, but the father returns as a mindless zombie who kills and eats the mother. The boy, standing in what he believes is a protective pentagon, refuses to surrender. The demon reveals that the boy has actually drawn a hexagon, which offers no protection, and that his wish to never fail geometry again has also been granted. The demon and the zombie father then attack the boy as the screen fades to black.

Reader's Guide

Geometria is significant as an early work by Guillermo del Toro, showcasing his blend of horror and dark humor. The film's plot hinges on a misunderstanding of geometry, leading to a demonic twist that punishes the protagonist's academic failure. Del Toro was not satisfied with the original cut and later released a director's cut with a new score by Christopher Drake. The film's inclusion on The Criterion Collection's release of Cronos helped preserve it. Bloody Disgusting described it as 'an inspiring short from a filmmaking standpoint, as well as a humorous piece of gruesome horror.' The film remains a notable example of del Toro's early style and his ability to craft a compact, ironic horror story.

Did You Know?

• The film is based loosely on Fredric Brown's short story 'Naturally', originally published in Beyond Fantasy Fiction.
• The director's cut is slightly shorter than the 1987 cut and features a new music score by Christopher Drake.
• The film was shot in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
• All but one of del Toro's short films before Geometria remain unreleased.