Adorably whimsical kind of B movie themed film with dark humour and mad love story

Rating: 10/10 (4 February 2019)

I can't believe it has taken me so long to get to see this movie. I did not know much about the plot, so I was very surprised, amused and strangely moved by much of the bizarre romance which unfolded between the lonely heroine and the equally lonely amphibious man-creature.
This movie has been sadly misunderstood by many of the reviewers, who did not realize that it was actually meant to have moments of dark comedy. It is not meant to be a serious, realistic Sci Fi movie, but it is totally believable as a love story. If this lonely, thirty-something woman did meet a lonely man-fish creature of this kind, and they had a special sign language communication, it seems credible that they might fall in love. The merman looks alien but strangely attractive, with big, jewel-like eyes and beautiful lips. He has gills which make pretty fan shapes around his head and arms.
The good-guy characters in this movie are warm and fully developed, likeable people. The amphibious man is weird but also very likeable. The villain is so evil that you just have to laugh at his extremes of boorishness and sadism. Some of the violence is oddly slapstick and darkly hilarious.
If you are prepared to suspend disbelief and enjoy the whimsical madness, violent, slapstick laughs and bizarre yet adorable romance, you will soon see why The Shape of Water won so many awards. It has the most fabulous look of the early 1960's, from the scenery, cars and clothes, even down to a slightly yellowed took to the film's colour, as if it was actually filmed in the 60's. I also think that fans of graphic (cartoon) novels will love the oddball romance of this movie. Expect the unexpected, float away and enjoy the ride. Escapism is the order of the day.