Review – The Shape of Water
Guillermo del Toro

(Runtime:  123 min, Rated MA15+)

 

There’s no doubt that Guillermo del Toro is a master craftsman of the cinema , and his latest offering is an absolute testament to that.

The Shape of Water, recently won del Toro the ‘Best Director – Motion Picture’ gong at The Golden Globes, and it’s not hard to see why. From the soft haunting opening we are transported from this world back in time to 1962, and in to the life of Elisa Esposito  (Sally Hawkins) a mute cleaning lady who works for a secret Government Research Facility.

We see the routine of Elisa’s days,  from her waking at night preparing to go to work with the overly chatty Zelda (Octavia Spencer), to coming home to her small flat above a cinema and looking after her neighbour, struggling artist Giles (Richard Jenkins).

When Elisa encounters a creature, not unlike the old school Creature From The Black Lagoon, being held within the facility, she communicates in her own language and the two form a bond.

Set against a backdrop of The Cold War, Soviet Spies, Government cover ups, the film also touches on race, gender and power plays. It’s also a love story, all delicately woven against a magical and almost fairy-tale like background.

I don’t want to give away the rest of the story, needless to say there are plenty of plot twists and turns to keep this movie interesting.  There is also something in there for old school del Toro fans with some stomach churning moments.

As someone who has watched a lot of del Toro films, I know that nothing he puts in is ever an accident so this film will need a second watch to pick up the little nuances that lay in the background, no doubt as with all his work it will be a rabbit-hole of picking up all the little gems he has laid, but even if you are not as familiar with his style, this film is incredibly beautiful.

The film is held together by Sally Hawkins, who does not utter a single word throughout the entire film.  What I also loved is that Sally was relatable, for me, as a real character precisely because she is in her 40’s. Her role in this film has seen  her receiving nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role.

The creature, portrayed by Doug Jones is also spectacular, and a testament to Jones’ skill as he is in full SFX and still manages to portray the creatures depth of emotion.

Michael Shannon brings a simmering sense of tension with his portrayal of Strickland; an almost stereotype of the hard US Govt Agent.  He made my skin crawl, in more ways than one.

What I loved most about this film, was the feeling that takes you  back to the old style of movies; both romance and monster. While on one path we have the parable about who the real monsters are, it is intertwined with a magical love story and GDT’s deft hand blends the two seamlessly.   The fact that the whole movie is tinted as if we are all underwater gives the film a calming and peaceful feeling in the watcher. There is a lot of water throughout the movie in general it has the effect of being quite calming, despite the horror of ..well  you’ll see.