The Shape of Water (2017) - Guillermo del Toro

Transversing the monster movie story archetype, Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water is a romantic fable set against the backdrop of the Cold War era, being a story about the most powerful of all forces - love.  The story, centered around the budding connection between Elisa, a lonely mute who works in the janitorial department of a high-security government laboratory, and a secret classified experiment, del Toro's latest is a high concept romance, which pontificates about love and the cold embrace of loneliness.  While the romance itself is heartfelt and compelling, thanks in large part to Sally Hawkins wonderful performance, the most interesting aspect of the film is the juxtaposition between their budding romance and the life of the main antagonist, a government agent whom will stop at nothing to dissect this fantastical creature.  Played by Michael Shannon, this character is a malevolent force for much of the film, yet it's the subtle ways in which the film captures his own longing and sense of true connection where the film makes its most fascinating assertions.  While this character is tremendously one-note at first, a walking cartoon of government & military authority, his characterization evolves as the film progresses, as del Toro subtlety showcases how his anger is a direct result of his inability to love. This juxtaposition with that of the jubilation which our main protagonist experiences when she herself finds this connection, via this creature, is fascinating and compelling, as The Shape of Water becomes a rallying cry for more genuine kindness and love in the world, asserting that loneliness, isolation, and fear of what we don't understand are the root cause of anger and violence.