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The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water

Drama · Fantasy · Romance · 2017

An other-worldly story, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962, where a mute janitor working at a lab falls in love with an amphibious man being held captive there and devises a plan to help him escape.

Movie details

The Shape of Water

“A fairy tale for troubled times.”

2017 Drama · Fantasy · Romance 2h 3m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

An other-worldly story, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962, where a mute janitor working at a lab falls in love with an amphibious man being held captive there and devises a plan to help him escape.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Shape of Water?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Three girlhood friends now at college share first loves, first kisses and first betrayals. At the center of it all is the best-looking boy on campus. Can a self-conscious dreamer hook the biggest fish in the pond?

Queer

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In 1950s Mexico City, William Lee, an American ex-pat in his late forties, leads a solitary life amidst a small American community. However, the arrival in town of Eugene Allerton, a young student, stirs William into finally establishing a meaningful connection with someone.

Ashes in the Snow

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Maria's Lovers

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A World War II prisoner returns home to his childhood sweetheart. However, back home, he discovers that he has to compete to win her love.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Guillermo del Toro

Written by

Vanessa Taylor · Guillermo del Toro

Sally Hawkins

Sally Hawkins

Elisa Esposito

Michael Shannon

Michael Shannon

Richard Strickland

Richard Jenkins

Richard Jenkins

Giles

Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer

Zelda Fuller

Michael Stuhlbarg

Michael Stuhlbarg

Dr. Robert Hoffstetler

Doug Jones

Doug Jones

Amphibian Man

David Hewlett

David Hewlett

Fleming

Court is in session

Put The Shape of Water on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.