Official promotional poster. Rights belong to the respective rights holders.
Read the film reference Availability and pricing vary by region.The Shape of WaterA movie brief.
2017 / romantic dark fantasy film / Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Love knows no bounds, not even species.
What is The Shape of Water about?
In 1962 Baltimore, a mute cleaner falls in love with a captured humanoid amphibian creature and decides to help him escape from death at the hands of an evil colonel.
Five things to know.
Setup
The film is set in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, during the Cold War and follows a mute cleaner at a high-security government laboratory.
World
The story is inspired by Creature from the Black Lagoon and features a humanoid amphibian creature from a South American river.
Pressure
A villainous colonel seeks to vivisect the creature to examine its respiratory system, prompting the cleaner's heroic actions.
Craft
The film features stunning visuals, production design, and a musical score by Alexandre Desplat, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Score.
Viewing Note
The film's use of color and its blend of romance, fantasy, and social commentary create a unique viewing experience.
A thought to take with you.
Elisa's routine at the laboratory lets her notice the captive creature as a being rather than an experiment. Her plan to help him escape joins private solidarity to a workplace where officials control whose life counts as valuable.
Is it your kind of movie?
Choose it for a stylized adult fantasy romance set in 1960s Baltimore. It includes violence and mature sexual material, with an outsider-centered fairy-tale structure.
Sources & scope
This AI-assisted brief is based on the linked secondary reference. Facts and interpretation are separated; it does not claim personal viewing or independent expert review.
Source details checked September 8, 2026. Suggest a correction · Our editorial approach