Not just a love letter to the Creature from the Black Lagoon, but to cinema itself. Del Toro's The Shape of Water is the "Who is the real monster?" question taken to the nth degree, with some some fascinating side-concepts that are explored just enough to be worthwhile. At the end of the day The Shape of Water, at its most stripped back, is a movie about fucking a fish. But it's the kind of movie about fucking a fish that should also probably win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time.