Review: The Shape of a Great Movie

It has been a long time since I have seen a movie with such depth, but before heading into why I love this movie so much let me explain its dynamics.

The director of the movie is Guillermo del Toro who is a very well known director and while many of his movies, like Crimson Peak, have done well in recent years, fans believe Toro has not lived up to his potential.

The Shape of Water is not your everyday movie; the backdrop is set in the Cold War era circa 1962. Elisa, who is mute works, as a cleaning lady during night shifts in a hidden high -security government laboratory where he co-worker Zelda talks her ear off while keeping her company. In the beginning of the movie, it is obvious that Elisa is trapped in a life of isolation and believes this to be because she is mute, therefore people see her as a person who is lacking.

While Elisa and Zelda are working as cleaning ladies, Elisa becomes interested in the creature being hidden within the lab. As Elisa becomes more invested in what this creature is, she brings him hard boiled eggs and listens to music with him which marks the beginning of their relationship.

What makes this story interesting is that every single character, even the man who is beating the “monster”, has fulfillment they long for, including the monster. Elisa and this creature begin to communicate through sign language and for the first time in her life, she feels as though she is complete.

Why I find this movie so beautiful is because when I first read the description for this movie I had no idea why anyone would want to see it but after watching the trailer and becoming more intrigued I saw it. Trust me, this is a movie you want to see. Many movies now are made for the views and money that comes along with it. While the movie is good, the message behind it is something I have not seen in a long time. This movie is weird and that’s what makes it so perfect.