The Shape of Water 2017

This review contains spoilers after the non spoiler section. Non spoiler thoughts summary: At its heart, this is a gentle and sincere romance built on trust and recognition rather than words. The film treats its characters with empathy, allowing love to feel patient and earned instead of idealized. Sally Hawkins is phenomenal, carrying the film with pure physical performance and emotional clarity. Guillermo del Toro blends romance, fantasy, and classic cinema love into something strange yet deeply human. ⚠️ Spoilers ahead. From here on, plot details are discussed. Read on if you’ve seen the film. If not, save this post and come back after. ⚠️ The first thing that stood out to me was the production design. The sets feel tangible and lived in, from the damp corridors of the facility to Elisa’s apartment above the cinema. Everything has texture, making the world feel real despite the fantasy elements. At its core, this is a sweet and sincere romance. The relationship between Elisa and the Amphibian Man is built on trust, patience, and recognition. They don’t see each other for what they lack, but for who they are. There’s no judgment, just understanding, and that makes the love story surprisingly grounded and emotionally honest. There’s also a fun heist vibe when they plan and execute the breakout of the Amphibian Man. It adds tension and momentum to the story. The reveal of the creature’s healing abilities was a genuine wow moment for me, reinforcing his almost mythic, godlike presence. Sally Hawkins is incredible here. She’s the heart of the film. Even without dialogue, her performance is expressive, tender, and deeply human. She’s the main reason I wanted to watch this, especially after Bring Her Back, with Guillermo del Toro being the second reason, after hearing watching Frankenstein. Michael Shannon delivers another intense performance, very much in his General Zod mode. The visual detail of his finger slowly rotting alongside his moral decay is a great piece of visual storytelling. His character literally and figuratively falls apart as the film progresses. I couldn’t help but joke about how expensive their water bill must be. The final act is beautifully done. The score swells, the lighting becomes more cinematic, and everything comes together emotionally and visually. For me, this is stronger and more effective storytelling than Frankenstein. It’s romantic, strange, and heartfelt in a way that feels sincere.