The Shape of Water is a 2017 romantic fantasy film directed by Guillermo del Toro. It is set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962 and tells the story of a mute janitor who forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature held in a top-secret research facility. The film was acclaimed by critics for its acting, screenplay, direction, visuals, and production design. It stars Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, and Octavia Spencer.
Plot
The Shape of Water is a romantic fantasy film set in Cold War-era America circa 1962. The story revolves around a mute janitor named Elisa Esposito, who works in a top-secret research facility. She forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature held in captivity in the facility. As their bond grows stronger, Elisa hatches a plan to help the creature escape from the facility and return to the ocean.
Full Cast
- Sally Hawkins as Elisa Esposito
- Michael Shannon as Richard Strickland
- Richard Jenkins as Giles
- Doug Jones as Amphibian Man
- Michael Stuhlbarg as Dr. Robert Hoffstetler
- Octavia Spencer as Zelda Fuller
- Lauren Lee Smith as Elaine Strickland
- Nick Searcy as General Hoyt
- David Hewlett as Fleming
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writer: Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor
Box Office Gross: $195,243,464
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 2017
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 23, 2018
Themes
The film explores themes of love, acceptance, and the fear of the unknown. It also touches on issues of discrimination, power dynamics, and the consequences of scientific experimentation.
Reception
The Shape of Water was critically acclaimed and won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design. It was praised for its acting, screenplay, direction, visuals, and production design.
Challenges Faced
The film faced several challenges during production, including a limited budget and a tight shooting schedule. The filmmakers also had to create a convincing and realistic-looking amphibious creature, which required extensive makeup and special effects work.
Settings
The film is set in a top-secret research facility in Baltimore, Maryland, during the Cold War era of the early 1960s.
Visual Styles and Techniques
The film features a distinctive visual style, with a muted color palette and a focus on water imagery. The filmmakers used a combination of practical and digital effects to create the creature and other visual elements.
Trivia and Fun Facts
- The film was inspired by director Guillermo del Toro's childhood love of monster movies.
- The creature was played by actor Doug Jones, who also played Abe Sapien in del Toro's "Hellboy" films.
- The film's title is a reference to the 1954 film "Creature from the Black Lagoon."
- The film's score was composed by Alexandre Desplat and features a prominent use of whistling.
- The film's opening sequence features a dreamlike musical number performed by Sally Hawkins' character.