The Shape of Water is a beautiful fairy tale of love between outcasts from society, relatable to anyone who watches.
“From master storyteller Guillermo del Toro, comes THE SHAPE OF WATER, an otherworldly fiary tale set against the backdrop of Cold War-era America circa 1962. In the hidden, high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Rounding out the cast are Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg and Doug Jones.”
We are introduced to Elisa as she begins her routine, the same routine day after day as she gets ready for her cleaning duties in a government lab. She doesn’t have a social life, and her only friends are her neighbor Giles (Richard Jenkins) and her co-worker Zelda. Her routine is interrupted one day when Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon) is posted to the laboratory bringing along a strange creature he discovered in South America, which he tortures regularly to study its responses. As Elisa breaks for lunch while cleaning the lab, she and the creature become curious about each other, forming a bond that transcends species.
The first act, as well as the rest of the film, is simply beautiful. It perfectly sets up this world in the Cold War-era that is very fitting for the tone of the film; mysterious, dark and filled with paranoia. Right away we get a sense of understanding of who the characters are. The subtle character traits translate very well, especially with Giles, giving him a great depth despite not being the focus of the film.
In the second act, as Elisa and the creature form a rapport, we learn just how intelligent the creature actually is, and the dangers he faces, from Strickland who wants to dissect him and from the Russians who want to steal him away or prevent the Americans from learning anything by destroying him. The stakes are raised in this act as Elisa has to figure out a way to break him out of the lab without getting caught, which leads to a very suspenseful heist-like sequence where everyone’s true intentions are revealed.
The second act juggles a love-story and the dangers facing the love-struck couple perfectly. We see and learn a lot more from the secondary characters, especially Dr. Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg), with a unique story and a very endearing character. The third act is set up nicely, the fate of the creature and convergence of all the characters is highly anticipated as the viewer becomes totally invested in what happens with Elisa and the creature.
The Shape of Water is many things, but the word that I’ve continuously used and keep coming back to is ‘beautiful’. Everything about it, from the set design, costumes, performances, make-up, characters, writing; absolutely everything. Guillermo del Toro is a master of the craft, especially when it comes to exploring the beauty of monsters and the mysteries not of this world. It’s great that he’s gained recognition for this film, quite the achievement for a life dedicated to bringing to screen exactly what he envisioned, not allowing anyone to change his creative visions.
The performances of all the actors are one of the primary driving forces of the film. Perhaps one of the most difficult things as an actor is to be able to convey a range of emotion without speaking, and there is a reason Sally Hawkins was nominated for an Academy Award for the film. The emotion pours from her face and from her movements. The same must be said for Doug Jones as well, who rarely gets the opportunity for speaking roles, confined to elaborate suits and make-up, and is still able to do such a fantastic job. Richard Jenkins, as I mentioned, really shines, embodying his character and the subtle nuances beautifully. Despite these wonderful performances from everyone all around, I must say that it is Michael Shannon who makes the film as memorable as it is. His antagonist has so many dimensions to him, we understand him, yet despise him at the same time. There are some truly disturbing moments by him in which he steals any scene he’s in.
One of the more notable details about the film is every single one of the protagonist characters, Elisa, Giles, Zelda, and the Creature, are all outcasts from society in their own way, whether it be by disability, sexual orientation, race, or species, these are misunderstood characters that are more capable of compassion and love than the majority. It’s absolutely wonderful that del Toro focuses his story on these people during a time of such turmoil when there are so many people struggling for acceptance for who they are. The Shape of Water is a true beauty and the beast fairy tale that seems more grounded in reality than any of the other stories which promises the beast will turn human at the end. Guillermo del Toro has created such a beautiful love story that will be sure to warm the hearts of anyone who watches.
Video
The Shape of Water is presented in 4k Ultra High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1. With a film so beautiful, which won an Academy Award for set design, 4k is the way to go when watching this film. Although it’s a relatively dark film, the colors are contrasted nicely against the dark backdrops and settings, which really bring out the benefits of the High Dynamic Range boasting the brilliant brights, deepest darks, and lifelike colors. The transfer is free of any defects or issues, delivering a flawless presentation that highlights the best aspects of the film.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and is definitely one of the great things about the disc. Also winning an Academy Award for Best Original Score, the track mixes the score and the rest of the sound without any issues. You’ll be utilizing everything you have with your surround sound system with this film, with some great and intense sequences, and powerful dialogue. This is a great addition to an already stellar 4k disc.
Special Features
The extras are located on the Blu-Ray disc which is also included in this set. These go in depth into the making of the film, very informative and worth taking a look at.
On this set you’re going to see:
- The Shape of Water in High Definition
- A Fairy Tale for Troubled Times
- Anatomy of a Scene: Prologue
- Anatomy of a Scene: The Dance
- Shaping the Waves: A Conversation with Artist James Jean
- Guillermo del Toro’s Master Class
- Theatrical Trailers
The Shape of Water is so much more than a love-story. It’s a tale of misunderstood people, different and cast out by society. It will mean something different to everyone who watches it, but the love these two feel for each other is undeniable, and will always be timeless.
