The Shape of Water
From Guillermo del Toro comes an other-worldly fable set in Cold War–era America (circa 1962). In a hidden high-security government laboratory, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) lives in isolation until she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) uncover a secret classified experiment.
THE SHAPE OF WATER | Official Trailer | FOX Searchlight
Searchlight Pictures published this official trailer on Jul 19, 2017. It represents The Shape of Water (2017) in our trailer research.
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The Shape of Water: story and trailer overview
The story
From Guillermo del Toro comes an other-worldly fable set in Cold War–era America (circa 1962). In a hidden high-security government laboratory, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) lives in isolation until she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) uncover a secret classified experiment. The premise centers on discovery and transformation against a tense, period backdrop, with a supporting cast that includes Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg and Doug Jones.
What to expect
Expect an intimate, character-focused tale anchored in a Cold War laboratory environment: loneliness, unexpected discovery, and the consequences of uncovering a classified experiment. The description suggests tonal blend of fantasy and period drama driven by interpersonal stakes.
Trailer analysis
Why it works
The trailer builds attraction through texture: water, glass, green-blue light, and careful glimpses of the creature. It explains enough of Elisa's isolation and the laboratory threat to establish stakes, then returns to visual connection. The restraint preserves wonder while the mounting danger supplies momentum.
Signature moment
Elisa and the creature reach toward one another through glass, reducing the entire romantic premise to a single image.
Historical context
Searchlight described the 2017 film as an other-worldly fable set in Cold War-era America, centered on Elisa and a classified laboratory experiment. The campaign's imagery foregrounded that unlikely connection.
Verdict
A mood-first trailer whose central image explains more than another minute of plot could.