The Shape of Water is in very good shape indeed following its worldwide debut at the famous festival.
Critics have been unanimous in praising the dark fairytale and it currently sits at the top of Rotten Tomatoes with a flawless aggregate score.
The film tells of a sweet mute girl Eliza (Sally Hawkins) who become intrigued by a mysterious creature in a government research facility. The Mexican director’s magical new movie also features Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon and del Toro regular Doug Jones.
From the clues in the first trailer fans are already convinced that this is the origin story of one of the most popular characters from Hellboy.
The film isn’t released in the UK until next year, but already promises to be a beguiling and beautiful treat.
Early reviews will only send expectations even further sky-high.
Jo-Anne Titmarsh from Hey-U-Guys said: “With The Shape of Water, Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has achieved something that La La Land managed here in Venice last year: he has made a beautiful, romantic film that is as much a paean to cinema as it is a love story. This is a charming, beautifully filmed movie that appeals on many levels and is a song to cinema and to love.”
Guy Lodge from Variety said: “A ravishing, eccentric auteur’s imagining, spilling artistry, empathy and sensuality from every open pore, it also offers more straight-up movie for your money than just about any Hollywood studio offering this year.”
David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter said: “A dark-edged fairy tale as lovingly steeped in vintage movie magic as it is in hypnotic water imagery, this captivating creature feature marries a portrait of morally corrupt early-1960s America with an outsider tale of love and friendship.”
Brian Formo at Collider wrote: “The Shape of Water not only entertains as a sumptuous fairytale, but it reinforces a faith in humanity set in a time where tolerance of other races, nationalities, and non-“family values” love was volatile. And it’s percolating back to the surface again.”
The Shape of Water has received a restricted R-rating in the US for adult themes and the trailer already hints at a brutal and bloody battle for Abe’s freedom but, as always, with the director, love will doubtless shine in the darkest of places.
The Shape of Water is out in UK cinemas on February 16, 2018.