Watch The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water is a captivating and enchanting fantasy drama film from 2017. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, the movie is set in Baltimore during the Cold War era in the 1960s. The story revolves around a lonely and isolated mute janitor named Elisa Esposito (played by Sally Hawkins) who works at the Occam Aerospace Research Center.

Elisa lives a dull and repetitive life, which is disrupted when the laboratory receives a new subject for experimentation, a mysterious amphibian creature (played by Doug Jones). The creature is believed to be a god by the Amazonian tribes, and the government intends to use it as a weapon in the space race against the Soviet Union.

Despite the lab's strict security and warning to keep away from the creature, Elisa develops a strong emotional connection with it. She slowly comes to understand its culture, and the two begin to communicate using sign language. This tender relationship is portrayed beautifully, with a magical and poignant atmosphere that evokes a deep sense of feeling and emotion.

As the days go by, the lab director, Richard Strickland (played by Michael Shannon), becomes increasingly agitated with the creature's lack of progress in the program. Strickland is a sadistic and authoritarian character that views the creature as just a means to an end. His abuse and cruelty towards the creature are unsettling, and he is completely indifferent to its welfare or well-being.

Elisa is not the only one who shows kindness towards the amphibian creature. Her closest colleague and friend, Zelda (played by Octavia Spencer), supports and assists Elisa with her humanizing efforts. They come up with a plan to rescue the creature before it is dissected or killed. They also receive help from Dr. Robert Hoffstetler (played by Michael Stuhlbarg), a scientist who has his own secret agenda and sympathies for the creature.

The Shape of Water is a unique and visually stunning movie that balances horror, romance, and fantasy elements. The film's theme of segregation and discrimination adds a layer of social commentary to the plot. The story takes the audience on an extraordinary journey that explores human connections and the concept of identity.

The performances in the film are top-notch, particularly Sally Hawkins, who delivers a powerful and authentic portrayal of a woman who has been silenced all her life. The creature design is also impressive, and the special effects team deserves credit for creating an awe-inspiring creature that seamlessly interacts with the actors.

In conclusion, The Shape of Water is a masterful and unconventional film that deserves all the accolades it has received. It is a strange and surreal experience that is both romantic and harrowing at the same time. The movie captures the essence of what it means to be human, and the universal desire for connection and understanding. If you appreciate films that challenge your perceptions of reality and provoke thought, then this movie is for you.

The Shape of Water is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 3 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 87.