D: Guillermo del Toro (Pacific Rim, Hellboy II: The Golden Army).
S: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer.
Feels 1980s, e.g. STARMAN. Sally Hawkins is the key to watchability. Needed another gear.
My review: http://www.filmaluation.com/the-shape-of-water.html