Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Compassionate monster movie/love story has mature content.
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Why Age 16+?
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The Shape of Water
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 30 parent reviews
Parents say the film is polarizing, with some praising its striking visuals and emotional depth while others criticize its mature themes, graphic violence, and sexual content that they deem inappropriate for younger audiences. While some viewers found a romantic and heartfelt story that resonates with underlying messages, many expressed discomfort with its disturbing elements, leading to divided opinions about its suitability for general audiences.
- mature themes
- graphic violence
- emotional depth
- visual artistry
- polarizing opinions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 33 kid reviews
What's the Story?
In THE SHAPE OF WATER, mute Elisa (Sally Hawkins) works nights as a cleaning lady for an aerospace research center in the early 1960s. She and her talkative best friend, Zelda (Octavia Spencer), start cleaning one of the rooms and discover some kind of non-human being (Doug Jones) in a tank full of water. Finding herself drawn to him, Elisa keeps visiting, bringing him hard-boiled eggs and playing music. But since the cruel, vicious Colonel Strickland (Michael Shannon) violently treats the creature as an enemy, Elisa decides to break him out. She enlists the aid of her loyal next-door neighbor, commercial artist Giles (Richard Jenkins), and is unexpectedly helped by scientist Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg), who doesn't want to see the creature killed and dissected. With the creature living in her bathtub, Elisa realizes that she must free him. But does she have enough time? And what's the secret of their mysterious connection?
Is It Any Good?
Fantastic director Guillermo Del Toro clearly put everything he had into this wonderful monster movie/romance, from a beautiful, labyrinthian visual scheme to a powerful story of love and empathy. Certainly The Shape of Water comes from a strange idea, but it's so lovely and so open-hearted that it never steps wrong. Given that it's structured, like Del Toro's own Pan's Labyrinth, as a kind of fairy tale, viewers may notice that it's easy to see where the story is going, but The Shape of Water is less about the payoff, or even the mystery, than it is about simply connecting.
It's interesting that Del Toro spends time focusing on other connections in the story, from husband-and-wife relationships to a spurned crush. And even the friendship between Elisa and Zelda -- one never speaking, the other always speaking -- is amusingly off-kilter. The movie seems to be saying that as long as something feels real, then it is real. The characters are supported by the brilliant set designs, which frame characters in unique and specific ways. There's also a striking use of the color green, as well as thematic uses of water (for cooking, bathing, as a force for destruction, etc.). All in all, The Shape of Water is one of Del Toro's absolute best movies.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Shape of Water's violence. How much is shown? Does it feel surprising or out of place in a movie that could otherwise seem like a gentle fairy tale? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
What's the difference between the characters' motivations and their methods? What bad or violent things happen while they try to do good things? Are they admirable just the same? How does the movie demonstrate the importance of compassion?
How are sex and nudity depicted? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How does the movie generate sympathy for a monster over sympathy for certain humans? How does this idea relate to real life?
Do you consider the movie to be a fairy tale? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 1, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : March 13, 2018
- Cast : Sally Hawkins , Octavia Spencer , Michael Shannon , Doug Jones
- Director : Guillermo Del Toro
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Director(s) , Mexican Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Fox Searchlight
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy
- Character Strengths : Compassion
- Run time : 119 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual content, graphic nudity, violence and language
- Awards : Academy Award , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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