Guillermo del Toro has the knack of tackling unsettling subjects. Whether it be depicting the Spanish Civil War through the lens of a twisted fairy tale in Pan’s Labyrinth or a bleeding, haunted house in Crimson Peak, del Toro has never shied away from showing the beauty within the ugliness. It certainly seems as if he has done so again in his newest film, The Shape of Water. The Shape of Water puts del Toro’s skills to good use, by focusing the story around a mute cleaning-woman named Elisa who discovers the existence of a mysterious aquatic, human-like creature from South America. Her friendship with him is quickly endangered by emerging threats from the government and the science lab that houses him. I am looking forward to yet another del Toro film that centers around a woman. He does an exceptional job depicting characters that are often marginalized or unheard. With del Toro, it is just another stale romance. It is always something different and decidedly strange. The Shape of Water is currently showing at the Michigan Theater. Purchase tickets ($8 for students with ID), online at the Michigan Theater website or at the box office.
