Review of The Shape of Water (2017) by Candycamal — 30 Dec 2017

Visuals are evocative & nicely moody - settled in thinking I'd love this movie, but ugh... was primarily shameless emotional manipulation. I liked Sally Hawkins, no complaint there, but nothing was subtle or interesting - flat - every character: 'Good' / 'Bad'.

As Rex Reed noted - villains were straight from central casting. Octavia Spencer: convenient 'prop'; someone had to translate mute woman's sign language. Magical realism: kinda, but not quite. Gratuitous female masterbation scenes.

Sledge hammer subtlety illustrating sad, sympathetic, sweet, old, insecure gay man encountering a young, ugly, ignorant homophobe. And romance where a big, very manly monster from the deep and sweet, silent, delicate & damaged little woman find each other - ah geez - it was all just too painfully predictable.

Then... to end with a classic chase scene & shoot out. Nope. Didn't much care for this movie.