The Shape of Water
At a top secret research facility in the 1960s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.
Despite a mid-range budget of $19.5M, The Shape of Water became a commercial juggernaut, earning $195.3M worldwide—a remarkable 902% return.
4 Oscars. 138 wins & 350 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Elisa's underwater dream sequence establishes her silent, isolated existence. She lives alone in an apartment above a movie theater, following a precise morning routine in her contained world—a mute cleaning woman living a life of quiet loneliness.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Elisa discovers the Amphibian Man in the secret laboratory tank. During her cleaning duties, she witnesses the creature for the first time—a humanoid amphibious being held captive for study and experimentation. The moment she sees him, something awakens in her; she's captivated rather than frightened.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Elisa learns Strickland has orders to vivisect the creature in one week. She makes the active decision to save him. She enlists Giles' help, declaring: "We're going to steal him." This is her choice to leave her safe, contained world and risk everything for love and connection., moving from reaction to action.
At 62 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Strickland brutally interrogates Zelda and Hoffstetler, getting closer to finding the creature. Meanwhile, the creature's health begins deteriorating in captivity—the bathtub isn't enough; he's dying. The stakes raise dramatically: false victory of the rescue turns to impending defeat. The clock is now ticking on multiple fronts., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 92 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Strickland discovers Elisa's involvement and arrives at her apartment just as she's preparing to transport the creature to the canal. He holds them at gunpoint in the darkest moment—all is lost. Elisa and the creature are captured; the dream of freedom and love seems dead. This is the "whiff of death" before the final act., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 99 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. At the canal, Strickland shoots both the creature and Elisa. But the creature—now in his element with the rising water—revives with godlike power. He heals himself, kills Strickland, and turns to Elisa's body. The synthesis: his power combined with their love provides the solution. He carries her into the water., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Shape of Water's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Shape of Water against these established plot points, we can identify how Guillermo del Toro utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Shape of Water within the drama genre.
Guillermo del Toro's Structural Approach
Among the 9 Guillermo del Toro films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Shape of Water exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Guillermo del Toro filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Guillermo del Toro analyses, see Hellboy, Nightmare Alley and Crimson Peak.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Elisa's underwater dream sequence establishes her silent, isolated existence. She lives alone in an apartment above a movie theater, following a precise morning routine in her contained world—a mute cleaning woman living a life of quiet loneliness.
Theme
Giles, Elisa's neighbor and only friend, tells her while painting: "Sometimes I think I was either born too early or too late for my life." This speaks to the film's central theme of outsiders born into the wrong time, longing for connection and belonging in a world that doesn't accept them.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of early 1960s Cold War Baltimore. Elisa works as a night janitor at a secret government aerospace facility with her co-worker and friend Zelda. We see her routines, her relationship with neighbor Giles, the oppressive workplace run by cruel security chief Strickland, and the arrival of a mysterious classified asset from South America.
Disruption
Elisa discovers the Amphibian Man in the secret laboratory tank. During her cleaning duties, she witnesses the creature for the first time—a humanoid amphibious being held captive for study and experimentation. The moment she sees him, something awakens in her; she's captivated rather than frightened.
Resistance
Elisa begins secretly visiting the creature during her breaks, bringing him eggs, playing music, teaching him sign language. Despite warnings from Zelda and the danger posed by Strickland's violent supervision, she cannot stay away. Dr. Hoffstetler, a Soviet spy scientist, also tries to protect the creature from vivisection orders.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Elisa learns Strickland has orders to vivisect the creature in one week. She makes the active decision to save him. She enlists Giles' help, declaring: "We're going to steal him." This is her choice to leave her safe, contained world and risk everything for love and connection.
Mirror World
The developing romance between Elisa and the creature deepens. In a beautifully intimate scene, she shares music and dance with him in the lab, and their connection becomes unmistakably romantic. This relationship subplot carries the theme—two "incomplete" beings finding wholeness in each other, communication beyond words.
Premise
The "promise of the premise"—a woman falls in love with a creature. Elisa and Giles execute the heist to rescue the Amphibian Man. They successfully smuggle him out and fill Elisa's bathroom with water to keep him alive. Elisa and the creature live together, exploring their connection, making love, and experiencing joy despite the danger of discovery.
Midpoint
Strickland brutally interrogates Zelda and Hoffstetler, getting closer to finding the creature. Meanwhile, the creature's health begins deteriorating in captivity—the bathtub isn't enough; he's dying. The stakes raise dramatically: false victory of the rescue turns to impending defeat. The clock is now ticking on multiple fronts.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies on all sides. Strickland's investigation closes in—Zelda's husband betrays them under pressure. The creature's condition worsens despite Elisa's care. Giles is hurt by the creature when trying to protect his cat. Hoffstetler is executed by Soviet agents for his failure. The plan to release the creature into the canal during the upcoming rain becomes desperate and increasingly impossible.
Collapse
Strickland discovers Elisa's involvement and arrives at her apartment just as she's preparing to transport the creature to the canal. He holds them at gunpoint in the darkest moment—all is lost. Elisa and the creature are captured; the dream of freedom and love seems dead. This is the "whiff of death" before the final act.
Crisis
Strickland takes Elisa and the creature to the canal docks for execution. The rain begins to fall. Elisa and the creature face their death with acceptance and love. In this dark moment, there seems no escape—the antagonist has won, love will be destroyed, and Elisa will die never having truly lived.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
At the canal, Strickland shoots both the creature and Elisa. But the creature—now in his element with the rising water—revives with godlike power. He heals himself, kills Strickland, and turns to Elisa's body. The synthesis: his power combined with their love provides the solution. He carries her into the water.
Synthesis
Underwater, the creature heals Elisa's wounds and transforms the scars on her neck into functioning gills. She awakens in her true element. The narrator reveals this is a tale of love and loss from another time. Elisa and the creature embrace underwater, finally both complete, both belonging, both home. They swim away together into the depths.
Transformation
The final image mirrors the opening: Elisa underwater, but transformed. No longer dreaming alone in a flooded apartment, she's truly alive in the water with her love. The mute woman who could never speak has found complete communication. The "incomplete" creature and the lonely woman have become whole together—a princess and prince of the water.