I had the pleasure of viewing this film long before it came out in cinema's. As someone who reads and injests so much media, not much surprises me. One of my forte's is Gothic horror and I seek out many films especially foreign. I have always been a fan of Guillermo del Toro's films since The Devil's Backbone and Pans Labyrinth, and despite the obvious plot line, thoroughly enjoyed Mimic and Crimson Peak. I will be honest and say I have not watched Hellboy, Pacific Rim, or Blade II (or the first).
Guillermo del Toro's earlier work always had a gritty, adult and violent undertones, reflected by his sets and cinematic art and interesting or involving characters, but his stories are whimsically veiled with mystery, fantasy, and a beguiling but sinister backdrop. The Shape of Water's aesthetics felt like a reprise and homage of Guillermo del Toro's earlier cinematic art style.

PAN'S LABYRINTH

CRIMSON PEAK

The Shape of Water can be described as a gritty steampunk-noir romantic thriller. Set during the Cold War of the 1960's, Guillermo del Toro's gritty streets and apartments are simple and quaint though they obviously serve as a social commentary on class and poverty, juxtaposed to the sinister, cold, gritty, but stunning steampunk feel of what I will call the 'facility'.

Our sweet heroine Elisa (actress Sally Hawkins), is mute, but can communicate through sign, she lives in poverty but works as a cleaner at the facility. We experience her world can be difficult and lonely, but we find the brightness in her life with her close partnership with her co-worker Zelda (actress Octavia Spencer - Hidden Figures). I always believe a story should start in action, that it's not copious narrative or explanation, it's active character presenting. Readers and viewers don't need to be spoon fed, and I love a story that can leave it up to the viewer. What we see and what we get is enough information to deliver intrigue. The point is to stimulate the mind, your emotions and the human side of you. Elisa's mute-ism progresses the mystery and intrigue surrounding the story further. You'll Never Know How Much I Love You plays a part in the storytelling and includes a scene that is a visual feast.

Set in the 60's a female mute wouldn't have been seen as exceptionally intelligent or talented, but Elisa hides behind this prejudice using as an advantage, always listening, her job as cleaner only adds to her innocent appearance within the facility. But as we have learned in countless narratives before us, underestimation is one of the greatest follies, and those in servitude, the ones who cook your food and clean your toilets, maintain have an underlying power.

Elisa's lack of ability to openly communicate is what serves as her advantage in gaining a relationship with The Amphibian Man. The Amphibian Man is pleasingly designed, with an abnormal beauty, an obvious nod to The Creature of the Black Lagoon, and homage to Peruvian legend. Our creature, menacing at first due to the experiments and torture he has endured, imprints on Elisa, and connects with her inability to speak, and she slowly begins to teach him basic sign language. Their shared loneliness bonds into a trusting friendship and deep love.

Our villain, Michael Shannon as 'Colonel Richard Strickland', is provocatively ruthless, viewing everything as either a weapon, wealth or mean to advance or intimidate.

Pitted against the military, scientists and a heavily monitored lab, Elisa uses her non-threatening demeanor to gain allies, albeit with curious backgrounds and motives, to aid her in her vision of freeing the Amphibious Man from his tormented existence. I am not one to get overly emotional, but for those who do The Shape of Water is definitely a bit of a tear-jerker, and will hopefully make you contemplate love and sacrifice, adversity, poverty, and the ideals we hold believing humanity as a master race.

8/10

Notes:
First three picture are not mine
All screenshots from movie originally taken and uploaded