Guillermo Del Toro: At Home With Monsters

When I was very young, my father would read me ghost stories and "Twilight Zone" comics, and tell me all about the mythology of monsters. For birthdays and holidays I would receive Stephen King novels, horror films, model kits of Frankenstein's laboratory and movie monster memorabilia. These gifts may seem peculiar for a young girl, but they made me very happy.

I was never interested in dolls or pretty things, what intrigued me were monsters -- Frankenstein, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Dracula, the Wolf Man -- and now as an adult that childhood fascination has evolved into a true admiration and respect of the horror genre. To me, monsters were never scary, they were simply magical.

My sisters and I were always allowed to watch horror movies (as long as they weren't too gory) and one that left a lasting impression on us, and still terrifies us to this day, was Guillermo del Toro's "The Devil's Backbone," a Spanish film about a young boy growing up in a haunted orphanage. We would watch it over and over in the dark, under the covers, and would jump and cover our eyes even though we knew what was coming.

Del Toro has always been an inspiration, and his contributions to the world of horror are transcendent. Also highly influenced by the genres of horror and fantasy as a child, he has a special way of romanticizing the supernatural, turning our fears into fascination, and by doing so making it beautiful.

What an accomplishment for this man, to take his childhood passion, devote his life to it and in turn shape and inspire entire generations to do the same. And now, for a short time, we can all catch a glimpse of his spirit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), where a new exhibit houses artifacts, paintings, drawings, film props and concept art to recreate the dreams he had as a child, and his journey along the way.

The exhibit, titled "At Home with Monsters," is a sensual and visual look into del Toro's world, more specifically his Los Angeles home, which he calls "Bleak House." There you will encounter life-size monsters from movies that influenced him, as well as props from his own films. Private collections of monster magazines, drawings, statuettes, rare books, personal sketch journals and homages to greats like Edgar Allen Poe, H.P. Lovecraft and Harry Houdini are all on display. There are hundreds of pieces to look at and admire as you walk the enchanted halls of "Bleak House," some breathtaking, most frightening and all awe-inspiring.

Every room is organized by theme, "beginning with visions of death and the afterlife; continuing through explorations of magic, occultism, horror, and monsters and concluding with representations of innocence and redemption." You will also be given snippets of his filmography, everything from his first "Cronos" to his latest "Crimson Peak," from various monitors along the way.

We should consider it an honor to be able to step into his world for a little while, knowing that his wonderful vision will haunt us thereafter.

Rain Room

While you're at LACMA visiting the "At Home with Monsters," you should make a reservation to visit the "Rain Room." This exhibit splashed into Los Angeles earlier this year and made quite the waves.

Created by Random International, the "Rain Room" is an immersive experience of constant rainfall that ceases with movement. This means you can literally walk into a rainstorm and not get wet. A bright light in the corner of the small room creates a dreamlike atmosphere when blended with the sound of raindrops. Small groups are allotted short 15-min time frames inside the "Rain Room," to experience the surreal adventure of controlling rain. The excitement of the attraction early on made for accelerated ticket sales, so act quickly because reservations are full through October.

You never really need a reason to visit LACMA. If you appreciate beauty, art and rich culture you can spend hours wandering their many halls or walking through the outside gardens. The addition of del Toro's "At Home with Monsters" and "Rain Room" will only be available for the next couple of months, you don't want to miss either one.