The Shape of Water is kinda weird.

Overview:

A lonely janitor at a top secret lab falls in love with an amphibious creature being held captive.

Initial Thoughts:

I have a lot to say about this film. Some good, some bad. Guillermo del Toro is the film’s director. His trademark style is that all of his films are monster movies. He tends to lean more toward the fantasy, science fiction, and horror genre. I don’t think his style translates well to romance. If you removed the monster entirely from this film, it wouldn't lose any of its uniqueness. The Shape of Water is set in the 60s and our main character is mute. Meaning she can hear but can’t speak, so she uses sign language. We also have gay and black side charcters. So our main cast is diverse considering the era. How come we don't see our main character fall in love with someone of the same diversity as our side characters? Granted, Toro’s monster looks and sounds real...very real. However, it just doesn’t work in romance. My favorite part is when the creature eats a cat, and that's just about all of the gore you’re gonna see here. I will give props to Guillermo del Toro for doing something different and at least making it his own.

Characters/Performances:

Sally Hawkins as Elisa Esposito: Our main character is Elisa. She has an obsession with water and at times it feels sexual. She is mute due to an accident that damaged her throat as a baby. Hawkins’ performance really carries this film along with Michael Shannon. She doesn’t say a word and has to show emotions through her sign language and facial expressions, mainly her eyes. The sign language is also on point here. When people use it in film and television i notice that sometimes they use outdated signs or use unnecessary signs which makes it hard to keep up with. Elisa is the heart of this film.

Michael Shannon as Richard Strickland: Strickland is a U.S. colonel, in charge of the lab that's housing the creature. Strickland is the main antagonist and he is perfectly casted. Once Strickland’s fingers get bitten off by the creature, he has surgery to get them reattached. After this, he is prescribed pain medication that he gets addicted to. Strickland is an asshole in this film. He makes sexual advances towards Elisa, says derogatory things to Octavia Spencer’s character, and tortures the creature for fun. Shannon is like Willem Dafoe. He plays a good over-the-top villain. Once the third act starts, Shannon goes sicko mode and just loses it. He pulls off his fingers (the ones that were bitten by the creature)...Like bro wow. Shannon’s performance reminds me of that one part in Man of Steel. Shannon and Strickland are entertaining to watch in this, bro.

Octavia Spencer as Zelda Fuller: Zelda is Elisa’s best friend and coworker. Since Elisa doesn’t talk, Zelda tragically does most of it during the scenes in the lab. Zelda is soooooooooooooooo annoying bro. She talks too much. You guys know that one person that always has something to say and no matter how hard you try you just can’t escape them and their conversation? She’s that. I honestly can’t believe that she got nominated for Best Supporting Actress from his film. Spencer, herself, is a great actress but this character is poorly written and annoying in my opinion.

Doug Jones as The Creature: The creature looks amazing. Guillermo del Toro’s monsters always look unique. Doug Jones has played monsters in many films like Pan’s Labyrinth, Quarantine, and Hellboy. Hellboy was also directed by Toro. As far as his performance goes, he's just….there. The creature doesn’t talk at all so he just swims, bite fingers, and eats boiled eggs.

Final Thoughts:

This film has strengths and weaknesses. The music is great. There are certain subplots that could definitely be cut. The gay neighbor has an entire subplot where he’s a failed artist and isn’t accepted because of his sexuality. Like why is this here? There’s also a subplot involving some russians and spies but no one cares. The connection between Elisa and the creature isn’t well developed at all. You guys smell that?..it's poor writing. We see them fall in love via montage. YOU CAN’T DO THAT! The whole romance aspect feels rushed now!!! I didn’t care what happened to their relationship because, why should I? I haven’t seen any sweet moments between them so I can’t buy the fact that they are in love. For y’all that are wondering...she has sex with the monster. SHE HAS SEX...WITH THE MONSTER. All of the side characters act like it's normal to do that with a humanoid amphibian. When Zelda found out she was like “guuuuuuuurl,” in the good way. If you came to me with that information, I'm taking you to a clinic because a yeast infection has entered the chat. Okay, one more positive thing to say, the ending scene in the water was beautiful and was the most touching part of the whole thing.

Rate:

B+