Reviews: The Shape of Water (2017) Movie Review / Ending Explained / FAQs
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The Shape of Water (2017) shocked audiences with its ending. Our spoiler-free review explains the scares, themes, and what makes this film unforgettable.
The Shape of Water (2017) – A Lyrical Fantasy Romance with Dark Undercurrents
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
The Shape of Water is a genre-bending blend of fantasy, romance, and Cold War-era intrigue. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, the story follows Elisa, a mute cleaning woman at a high-security government laboratory in the 1960s. Her quiet life changes when she discovers a mysterious amphibious creature being held captive for experimentation. As she bonds with the being through gestures, music, and compassion, their connection deepens into an emotional and forbidden romance.
Beneath the love story lies a deeper exploration of loneliness, acceptance, and defiance against societal prejudice. Elisa, marginalized for her disability, finds a reflection of herself in the creature—both misunderstood and underestimated. The supporting characters, including Elisa’s artist neighbor Giles and co-worker Zelda, bring warmth and moral grounding to the narrative while highlighting themes of loyalty and courage.
Acting, Cinematography, and Direction
Sally Hawkins delivers a profoundly expressive performance without uttering a word, conveying Elisa’s desires and fears through nuanced facial expressions and body language. Doug Jones, under extensive prosthetic makeup, brings a graceful and empathetic presence to the amphibious character, making the romance believable and touching. Michael Shannon’s portrayal of Colonel Strickland injects menace, serving as the oppressive force against Elisa’s liberation of the creature.
The cinematography is rich with deep greens, aquamarine hues, and golden lighting that evoke a dreamlike atmosphere. Dan Laustsen’s camera work and Paul D. Austerberry’s production design immerse the viewer in a world that feels both grounded in 1960s reality and touched by fairy-tale magic. Alexandre Desplat’s score, with its whimsical and haunting melodies, perfectly mirrors the film’s shifting moods from tender intimacy to tense suspense.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Guillermo del Toro’s direction is poetic and meticulous, blending a deeply personal love story with socio-political commentary. His ability to weave fantasy into historical settings makes the narrative feel timeless yet specific. The film’s greatest strength lies in its emotional sincerity—del Toro never winks at the audience but instead commits fully to the romance, no matter how unconventional.
While The Shape of Water is celebrated for its originality, some viewers may find certain subplots slightly underdeveloped, such as the espionage angle involving Soviet operatives. However, these threads still contribute to the atmosphere of paranoia and urgency, adding depth to the central romance.
Final Verdict & Score (1–10)
The Shape of Water is an audacious, heartfelt work that transcends genre boundaries. It combines visual beauty, emotional resonance, and imaginative storytelling into a memorable cinematic experience.
Score: 8/10
Who Will Enjoy It
Viewers who appreciate unconventional romance stories.
Fans of visually rich, fantasy-infused filmmaking.
Audiences who enjoy character-driven narratives with layered symbolism.
Who Might Be Disappointed
Those seeking straightforward fantasy without romantic elements.
Viewers who prefer fast-paced, action-driven storytelling over slow-burn drama.
Most Searched The Shape of Water (2017) FAQs – Answered
What is The Shape of Water about?
The film follows Elisa, a mute janitor at a secret government facility in the 1960s, who discovers a mysterious amphibious creature being held captive. As she secretly befriends the being, their connection grows into a deep and unconventional romance, leading to a daring plan to save him.Is the creature in The Shape of Water a god?
The film leaves this open to interpretation. Hints suggest the creature has supernatural abilities, such as rapid healing and breathing both in water and on land, which may imply divine or mythical origins.Why can Elisa breathe underwater at the end?
It’s suggested that Elisa’s neck scars, which she believed were from an injury at birth, are actually gills that the creature fully opens, revealing her as more connected to the water than she realized.Is The Shape of Water connected to Creature from the Black Lagoon?
While not officially related, Guillermo del Toro has stated he was inspired by that classic monster film and wanted to tell the story from the creature’s perspective, transforming it into a romance.What does the title The Shape of Water mean?
The title refers to the idea that water has no fixed form—it takes the shape of its container. This metaphor reflects the adaptability of love, breaking barriers between worlds, appearances, and societal norms.What was Strickland’s role in the story?
Colonel Strickland represents oppressive authority and fear of the unknown. His pursuit of the creature symbolizes society’s instinct to control and destroy what it doesn’t understand.Is the ending real or symbolic?
The final scene can be read both ways—either as a literal rescue and transformation for Elisa or as a poetic vision of their love continuing in another realm.
The Shape of Water (2017) Ending Explained
In the film’s climax, Elisa and the amphibious creature are cornered by Colonel Strickland near the docks. Strickland fatally wounds Elisa, but the creature swiftly retaliates, incapacitating him. Strickland, in his dy**g moments, seems to acknowledge the creature’s superiority and even hints at a kind of awe.
The creature then carries Elisa into the water, where her neck scars open into functioning gills. She revives, and the two embrace underwater. The final voiceover, narrated by Giles, suggests their love continues “happily ever after,” either in a literal shared life beneath the water or as a symbolic passage into a spiritual union.
This ambiguous ending serves two purposes:
Literal interpretation: Elisa survives, transformed to live permanently with the creature in his aquatic world.
Symbolic interpretation: The sequence represents love transcending death and societal boundaries, showing that their bond could not be broken by fear, prejudice, or violence.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- The Shape of Water Rating Scores
- Our Score: 8/10
- Overall Score: 8.26/10
- IMDB: 7.3/10
- MetaCritic: 8.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 9.2/10
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