Mute girl Gets her freak on with a fish

Rating: 7/10 (1 September 2018)

The Shape Of Water
For some this movie maybe a little too weird. Especially if you take it on face value and think of it as a film about a woman that falls in love with a Fish man.
No not a Fisherman but a man who is actually part fish!
When you explain the premise like that it does sound a little freaky.
For the rest of us, me included The Shape Of Water is a beautifully crafted movie with some wonderful acting and gorgeous cinematography.
Anyone who is familiar with Guillermo Del Torro's work will know that this director knows how to create stunning visuals.
TSOW is no exception. Every single frame of this movie is a delicious feast for the eyes.
Colours pop from the screen making this one of the best looking movies of the year.
I would not go as far to say it's the best movie of 2018 but it sure had me captivated from start to finish.
The story tells of Elisa played by Sally Hawkins. A lonely and incomplete mute girl who works as a cleaner at a top secret government facility.
Elisa's existence consists of the same routine ritual everyday.
Get up, take a bath, cook breakfast, go to work and then repeat.
Her only solice is that of her neighbour Giles played by Richard Jenkins. He too struggles through life as a down on his luck artist.
It is when at the facility Elisa discovers a mesmerising amphibious humanoid played by Doug Jones that she forms a bond with the tortured creature. From then on the strangest and most unique romance story unfolds.
I will admit that certain scenes of the movie had me a little at unease.
The thought of a shy retiring girl getting her freak on with a Merman is at first a little off putting but it's the way everyone involved in this film sells the story that kept me intrigued.
Sally Hawkins in particular is wonderful. Never a word spoken through out the movie, her performance was still alluring.
Michael Shannon was as usual brilliant in his role as the evil Colonel Richard Strickland.
There's something about Shannon's performances in all his movies. The actor demands and then captures your attention.
Doug Jones is always the go to man when you need an actor to convey a convincing performance through prosthetics.
His turn here as the amphibious creature is very good.
Everyone involved in this production, in front or behind the camera have done a terrific job in bringing such an unlikely story to life.
The Shape Of Water is a gorgeously made movie.