Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport
    • En Garde!
    • BUWRU Still on Top
    • Hidden Histories: With The Archaeology Society
    • Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia
    • Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights
    • Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!
    • Is There Hope For Percy Jackson?
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Redevelopment plans and the culture of Bangor

      October 28, 2022

      Immediate closure of Menai Bridge following reports of structural integrity issues

      October 28, 2022

      Racial abuse victim calls for harsher sentencing following nightclub assault

      October 28, 2022
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia

      October 29, 2022

      Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights

      October 29, 2022

      Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!

      October 29, 2022
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      By Emily ShoultsMay 6, 20220
      Recent

      Gilmore Garms

      October 28, 2022

      Fleeces and Funk

      October 28, 2022

      Cheerleading: Getting your kit together

      October 28, 2022
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      North Wales Ramblings

      October 28, 2022

      Hamza Yassin: The Hard Work That Is Making Luck Happen

      October 28, 2022

      Student’s Union Hosts Repair Cafe for Sustainability Awareness Week

      October 28, 2022
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Arts & Culture»Film»The Shape Of Water Review
    Film

    The Shape Of Water Review

    Jack HollinsheadBy Jack HollinsheadFebruary 16, 2018No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    There are many, many superlatives to describe, in my opinion, just how great this film is. One of the beautiful things about cinema, is its ability to engage you on a variety of levels, and The Shape Of Water certainly engages me on a wide range of those levels. It is very easy to see why it is being highly regarded by critics and why audience members enjoyed this visionary picture. This film is very good at taking you to another place whilst watching, and I almost felt like it was more of an experience.

    Eliza (Sally Hawkins, left) with the amphibious man (Doug Jones).

    The story is set in the 1960s in Baltimore, United States, and tells the tale of Eliza (Sally Hawkins) a mute cleaner at a secret research facility, where she becomes friendly with an amphibian creature (Doug Jones), who is being experimented on by the ruthless Colonel Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon) to help the USA’s efforts in the Cold War against the Soviets.

    What I enjoyed the most about this film, is its ability to layer so many different characterizations, with a series of chilling narratives that combined in harmony to produce a truly stunning film. Guillermo del Toro has put together a wonderful film, with the story and screenplay he wrote being a solid foundation on which all the cast and crew involve could take to new heights under his direction.

    Unable to perceive the shape of you, I find you all around me. Your presence fills my eyes with your love, it humbles my heart, for you are everywhere.

    Sally Hawkins is inspiring. To convey such emotion and story through facial expression and sign language alone is a masterclass in acting. Michael Shannon’s threatening and cynical character is a perfect mirror for Hawkins’ compassionate and understanding Eliza, which help you see true development throughout. Supporting roles from Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins and Michael Stuhlbarg are all wonderful. Last but certainly not least is Doug Jones, who portrays the amphibian man, and is sublime. He is layered underneath a practical prosthetic, and the way he is able to bring a creature to the forefront to match Hawkins is beautiful.

    Michael Shannon as Colonel Richard Strickland.

    The sets are incredible, taking you right back to how you imagined the 60s to be in a quieter, suburban town area. The major themes of love, trust and understanding really drive the film, and they’re surely standout reasons for why it has caught so much attention, because they are all relatable to us on some level. But it also weaves in topical issues from the period, which is crucial to rounding off the tone the film creates, sharpening the edges of an already dramatic feature. The use of colour and lighting at certain times adds a sensation to scenes, drawing you in even further than you already were.

    The Shape of Water, for me, is a symphony of reality and fantasy. It combines the two in such a way that makes sense, you almost wish it was a true story. The Pan’s Labyrinth feel, combined with a Bioshock, reminiscent type setting, is a wonderful atmosphere that I feel everyone can enjoy, and may just bridge the divides in some people’s taste in films, hopefully inspiring them to explore different feats and branches of cinema.

    The Shape of Water is in cinemas now and will be showing at Pontio from Friday 2nd till Thursday 8th March.

    Doug Jones Eliza Guillermo del Toro Michael Shannon Sally Hawkins The Shape of Water
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Jack Hollinshead

    Deputy Editor 2018-19 Film Editor 2017-18 Sport Editor 2016-17

    Related Posts

    Is There Hope For Percy Jackson?

    October 29, 2022

    Stacks of Choice in Main Arts Library

    October 29, 2022

    Don’t Worry Darling

    October 28, 2022

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.