Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is a cleaner at a top secret military research centre when an amphibious creature is held there. Sensing its pain she builds an emotional connection with it.

Guillermo Del Toro’s latest film is a fable in early 60’s America set against the backdrop of Cold War paranoia, classic musicals and a society not yet accepting of those different to each other. It is beautifully crafted and something no other director would be capable of. Just like Pan’s Labyrinth the world in which it is set is both realistic and surreal enough that the otherworldly happenings are believable. The score by Alexandre Desplat is perfect at creating the fairytale otherworldly theme and the sets and costumes round off that theme.

The film is also full of interesting characters. Elisa is beautifully played by Hawkins, full of warmth and her relationship with the creature (Doug Jones, yet again as Del Toro’s Monster) is believable as they communicate without words. Giles (Richard Jenkins) is her closeted neighbour prone to watching musicals, Zelda (Octavia Spencer) her best friend and fellow cleaner, Dr. Robert Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg) as the scientist uncomfortable with hurting the creature and Richard Strickland is another of Michael Shannon’s tightly wound scary villains. The voiceover work-at the beginning and end is a master stroke as well.

All in all it is a beautifully crafted film with a unique flair from a unique director.