Shape of Water Review
[WARNING OF SPOILERS AHEAD. PLEASE DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON WATCHING THE FILM. OTHERWISE, ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK. THANK YOU]
Now, as I’m sure you’re aware, last week was Valentine’s Week, so as a natural romance-obsessed geek in a relationship, my boyfriend and I went to see The Shape of Water last weekend. Now, there is something I must reveal – I have never watched Guillermo del Toro film, and I am sorry. I did study him a little at University and know he has a long list in filmography, including the Hell Boy series and the amazing film Pan’s Labyrinth. As a video game nerd, I know he enjoys them and is currently working with the legendary Hideo Kojima on his latest project, Death Stranding. So I went in completely blind and not really knowing much about the film apart from it involving a mute woman who uses sign language and develops a strange bond with a creature resembling something from the Blue Lagoon.
Despite going in completely blind, I think it helped somewhat. The film is a mixture of darkness, fantasy, slice of life and romance. And that ending – man, I did not see it coming.
In this review, I’ll give a Synopsis of the film; What I Did Like About the Film; What I Didn’t Like About the Film and then a Conclusion.
Synopsis
This tale begins in 1960s Baltimore, USA (more specifically during the Cold War in 1962) with Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins), a girl who was orphaned at a young age and mute (you can tell by the scratches on her neck). She works as a janitor at secret government facility (named Occam Aerospace Research) and leads a routine life of living above a old-school theater; looking after her neighbour Giles (Richard Jenkins) who is a closeted and washed-up artist and being consistently yelled at my her co-worked and best friend Zelda (Octavia Spencer). One day, a specimen named The Asset (Doug Jones, also credited as Amphibian Man) is bought in, captured in South America by Colonel Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon). Elisa is utterly fascinated by it, and through her own desire begins to develop of bond of teaching The Asset sign language; dancing, music and boiled eggs. Little does Elisa know that the scientist in charge of The Assest’s care, Dr. Robert Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg) is a Soviet spy called Dmitri, hoping to smuggle the creature back to his homeland. After witnessing The Asset being tortured and a meeting with the higher-ups, it is decided that the creature should be dissected and studied – as well as euthanized by the Soviets – rather than sent into space. Upon discovering this, Elisa – with the help of Giles, Zelda and Dr. Hoffstetler – plans to set The Asset free.
Initially upon finding out the film would be 2 hours long, I did not know how the story would fill the time gap while still being interesting, but it manages it. Along with the aspects of Elisa and The Asset creating a relationship between them.
What I Liked About the Film
I’m used to films that are bright and colourful (I’m not the biggest fan of horror films, that’s why I steered clear of Del Toro until now as I thought he was a pure horror director), but this film had very dark lighting (with an exception of a few scenes) and brooding, up it fit the film perfectly. And when there were splashes of colour, it still kept that old but sinister feeling throughout the entire movie.
Sally Hawkins is someone I’d never heard or seen of before Shape of Water, but she played Elisa so brilliantly, and even without speaking a word. She made her a thrill to watch and a character I could somewhat relate to – even though she is happy in her ‘mundane’ life, she still wishes for more and never complains about life throws at her. She brings a cheeky side to such a diverse character, that had me (and the rest of the cinema) laughing. Michael Shannon plays a brilliant bad guy (yet again) and Octavia Spencer brings her strong willed and strong sense of humour out into her character.
The special effects were brilliant (I especially love the scene where Elisa is on the bus and tracing the rain drops on the window) and the cinematography is true high standard, which is what you expect from a Del Toro film (even someone for me who has never watched his films before). Del Toro’s touch is seen in every scene, particularly the scenes that made me go, “Why is that there? Who is that person?”.
The music is weirdly wonderful, giving me a bit of French orchestra style and a touch of strange wonder (like the first time I watched The Nightmare Before Christmas). It’s memorable (so much so I’m listening to it as I’m writing this review).
What I Didn’t Like About the Film
Despite my mistake of thinking Del Toro as a pure horror director, there were still some scenes that were too gory (I actually had to cover my eyes a few times). I want to also point out that this is a 15 rated movie here in the UK, which I do not agree with – along with the gore, there are some ‘sexy’ scenes that even if a child under the age of 15 is present with a parent or guardian, I still wouldn’t want them to watch it.
I really did enjoy this movie and there was only one scene that I really didn’t like, mainly because it took me out of the movie a little bit. Throughout the movie, it is seen that Elisa and Giles are huge fans of old Hollywood and musical numbers, so such so that they are able to perform dances without standing up. I’m not the biggest fan of musicals, but I do enjoy the odd dancing number every now and then. And The Shape of Water actually had a music/dancing scene – after Elisa rescues The Asset and brings him back to her apartment, there is a scene were they’re eating boiled eggs at the table and Elisa becomes sad because she realizes she will have to let him go, suddenly You’ll Never Know by Renee Fleming begins to play and Elisa starts singing under a spotlight. The scene shifts from the kitchen to a studio used for an old school music video and now Elisa is dressed amazingly…next to an extra who belongs in Blue Lagoon. I understand that this scene was expressing how Elisa felt, but it felt too out of place for me and took me out of the moment.
Conclusion
Overall, The Shape of Water is a weird yet wonderful fairytale hybrid of beauty, darkness and untypical circumstances that somehow makes sense and leaves a profound mark on your heart. Or for me at least. It was all I expected from a Del Toro, and more. And it fully deserves all 13 Oscar nominations.
9/10 stars
Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed! There will another review next week, but will it be? Until then, take care!
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