Two exquisite Hellboy paintings hang on the walls of his library, commissioned and paid for out of his own pocket. I would literally do that movie for no money up front. I would bet my entire salary on the back end. Not a dollar for my services. He realizes horror films do not command much artistic respect.
Most people are ashamed of doing horror.
Most of the guys I know that do horror are ashamed of doing horror. My other director friends tell me they worry about me. But for del Toro, since watching that ill-fated episode of The Outer Limits from his crib, there was no turning back. If I were doing porn, I'd do porn with a passion. If I don't do horror movies, I will not do movies at all.