How James Cameron Saved Guillermo Del Toro's Father From Kidnappers

According to CinemaBlend, del Toro had put all of his money into "Mimic" and did not know how he was going to pay his father's ransom. UPROXX reports that the family eventually hired three hostage negotiators to no avail. After learning that del Toro's father had been kidnapped, his old friend James Cameron stepped in, and he took del Toro to a bank and gave him the $1 million he needed. In addition, he recommended a negotiator that could help the process. In 1998, Federico was safely returned after a harrowing 72 days, all thanks to Cameron (via Time).

UPROXX states that a few arrests were made in the case but nevertheless, the del Toro family left Mexico permanently shortly after. Del Toro has gone on to say that he wishes he could live and work in his home country, but that the deep trauma from the ordeal has prevented him from doing so (per Hollywood). In 2011, he told Time, "Every day, every week, something happens that reminds me that I am in involuntary exile [from my country]. But to talk about life in a direct way is the work of other types of storytellers. As a man, the kidnapping defined my life. As a storyteller, I try to define myself."

Although del Toro has said that he is "proud" of "Mimic," (via IndieWire), he does not have fond memories of this chapter in his life. He later said, "I have got to tell you, two horrible things happened in the late '90s, my father was kidnapped and I worked with the Weinsteins."

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