Guillermo del Toro has been known for his dramatic action-fantasy movies, but in late 2017, his typically action-packed movies took somewhat of a dramatic turn. The Shape of Water stunned many people, but not in the most desirable ways.

The movie can be described as a fairytale for adults, but that concept seemed to flounder with the audience. The storyline follows a mute girl who works as a cleaning woman in a laboratory circa 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland. She is tasked with cleaning up a tragic accident when she discovers a mermaid-like creature from South America that is being tested on. After befriending the creature, she and her neighbor take it away from the harsh lab conditions where she then falls in love with him.

One of the few items the movie did earn was its R rated title. With the constant exhibition of crude language, skin-clad bodies, and fairly graphic copulation, this movie is not for the faint-hearted. While the use of these mature concepts is done in a relatively respectable manner, this movie would not be something one would want to watch on a Saturday night with their parents.

The movie is undoubtedly beautifully filmed. Taking place during the Cold War in Baltimore, the sets stage makeup and special effects are perfect to coincide with the quirky culture of the early 1960s. Toro’s attention to color cannot go unnoticed in this film. According to the production designer, “Her world is water surrounded with cyan, blues, aged texture and furniture shaped with curves, while his place is bounded by gold and mustard colors to signify warmth and empathy,”

The use of color is undeniably the sole reason why this movie won Best Picture because as for the storyline, it was quite subpar. According to the New York Post, “this is a film from a group of terrific talents that never quite comes together the way you’d hope. It’s just too fluid to wholly take shape.” The film quality immensely overshadowed the both uncomfortable and overrated plot line.

Nominees such as Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Post were more cohesive films that seemed more deserving of the Best Picture title. However, Toro’s direction in the film was the singular item that credited this movie the 92% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and the Oscar. Despite their accomplishments, The Shape of Water sank against the competition with a non-critic audience.