Guillermo del Toro Compares Weinstein Brothers to Father's Kidnapping

Guillermo del Toro has had an exciting journey throughout his career, and the 90s were no different. Not only did he have a difficult professional experience working with Harvey and Bob Weinstein on Mimic, but it was also when his father was kidnapped in Mexico.

In an exclusive interview with Deadline at Contenders Film: Los Angeles, del Toro shared his less than pleasant experience on the set of Mimic with the infamous Weinstein brothers. In fact, he said that it was so awful that his father’s abduction in Guadalajara was easier to process. When asked about which was worse, the director said, “The Weinsteins, hands down.”

He elaborated and said that, at least with the kidnappers, he knew what they were after. However, when it came to the two filmmakers, he had no idea what they were trying to do. “Because, on the other thing, you knew what they wanted. The Weinsteins, who the f*ck knew what they wanted,” he explained.

This was not the first time del Toro made his opinion regarding the Weinstein Brothers and Mimic known. During the BFI London Film Festival, where the director screened The Shape of Water, he recalled his collaboration with the duo. He added that Miramax (the distributor of Mimic) wasn’t great to work with either. According to him, the whole production was so horrible that it actually made him consider not working with American filmmakers again.

I really hated the experience. My first American experience was almost my last because it was with the Weinsteins and Miramax. I have got to tell you, two horrible things happened in the late nineties. My father was kidnapped, and I worked with the Weinsteins. I know which one was worse… the kidnapping made more sense.”

Del Toro’s father, Federico, was abducted by criminals in Guadalajara. He was held captive for ransom for 72 days. After he was rescued, the director and his family chose to leave Mexico. He explained that the traumatizing event changed his relationship with the country, saying he feels like he can’t return.

Del Toro’s Frankenstein can now be streamed on Netflix.