The Shape of Water’: Strong & Strange Oscar Movies, But Will Be a Harder Sell

‘The Shape of Water’: Strong & Strange Oscar Movies, But Will Be a Harder Sell

Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water arrived as one of the most unusual yet compelling contenders in recent Oscar history. A romantic fantasy that blends Cold War politics with a fairy tale-like love story, the film challenged conventional notions of what an “Oscar movie” should look like. Its originality became both its greatest strength and its biggest hurdle.

At its core, The Shape of Water is the story of Elisa, a mute janitor in a government research facility, who forms a deep bond with a mysterious amphibious creature held in captivity. Far from a traditional Hollywood romance, the film embraces strangeness—mixing elements of fantasy, horror, melodrama, and even musical flourishes. Del Toro’s direction gave the movie a poetic texture, while Sally Hawkins’ delicate yet powerful performance anchored the emotional core.

From a critical standpoint, the film was lauded for its artistry, with praise directed toward its production design, Alexandre Desplat’s haunting score, and its bold genre fusion. It resonated with audiences who craved originality in an awards season often dominated by historical dramas or safe, prestige-friendly narratives.

However, despite its strengths, The Shape of Water was always a harder sell compared to more conventional Oscar fare. Its central love story between a human woman and a creature pushed boundaries, sparking divided reactions. Some critics hailed it as visionary and daring, while others dismissed it as too bizarre or alienating for mainstream voters. Unlike traditional crowd-pleasers, it required audiences to suspend disbelief and embrace a story that defied genre classification.

What ultimately gave The Shape of Water its Oscar momentum was its balance of boldness and heart. While strange on the surface, the film’s underlying message of compassion, empathy, and love in the face of difference carried universal appeal. That thematic weight allowed it to transcend its eccentric premise and speak to deeper human truths.

In the end, its success suggested that the Academy was increasingly open to celebrating originality, even when wrapped in unusual packaging. Still, the film’s journey to awards recognition highlighted an ongoing tension: movies that are both strong and strange often face an uphill battle in winning over wider audiences.