Where Was The Shape Of Water Filmed? Best Romantic Fantasy Film From 2017!!

Do you enjoy watching films that convey the message of higher philosophical ideas? If you do, then continue to read this article, where I discuss a romantic fantasy film, The Shape of Water, by Guillermo del Toro. And later let you in on where was The Shape of Water filmed.

The intense drama film, The Shape of Water, released in 2017 was inspired by the Italian novel of the same name, published a few years prior to the film. Guillermo del Toro surprised his audience with this romantic fantasy film that deals with deep philosophical values and intricacies of human relationships. The central story of the movie follows the character of a young female researcher, who develops a special bond with a semi-human creature. 

The Shape of Water contested with popular films, which were released in the same year and it went on to win a total of 138 prestigious awards, including 4 Oscars. This awe-inspiring film performed decently at the box office as well, grossing over $195 million in overall collections.

Now, before I discuss the plot of this movie, let’s find out where was The Shape of Water filmed. So that you can analyze the beautiful filming locations of this unconventional film, closely.

Where Was The Shape Of Water Filmed? Let’s Know This Unorthodox Film Closely!

Guillermo del Toro, over the years, has barely disappointed his fans with mediocre films. From directing super-entertaining animated films like Kung Fu Panda 2 and Rise of the Guardians to spell-bounding thrillers like Crimson Peak, del Toro has delivered nothing less than perfection on-screen. Thus while making The Shape of Water, the director paid special attention to choosing the perfect filming location, which would be economically feasible to film in, and also deliver an awesome backdrop setting.

So, after conferring with other members of the production, del Toro arrived at the final conclusion to shoot The Shape of Water in and around the beautiful locations of Canada. Specifically in hand-picked idyllic locations of Ontario. The principal photography commenced in August 2016 and was completed within three months. So without waiting any longer, let’s check out the specific shooting sites, and discuss where was The Shape of Water filmed in-depth.

Toronto, Ontario | Canada

The opening sequence of The Shape of Water, where we see the female lead walking into a movie theater with her friends, was actually filmed in Elgin and Winter Gardens Theater in Toronto. This iconic theater has been used by a number of filmmakers over the years, to shoot pivotal sequences. Thus after easily acquiring the filming permissions to shoot inside the movie hall, the crew arranged special lighting equipment and captured interior sequences.

The exterior shots of the theater however were filmed just outside of Victoria Massey Hall, located at a distance from Winter Gardens. Other significant scenes in Toronto featured the University of Toronto Scarborough. This educational institute was used to portray the scenes of the OCCM research facility shown in the film. The production unit then moved to the busier part of the city to shoot the sequence of the Lake View Restaurant. An upscale fine-dining place located at 1132 Dundas Street West was turned around and later used to film the interior sequence.

Hamilton, Ontario | Canada

After completing the majority of the shooting in different locations in Toronto, the production crew arrived in the city of Hamilton. The final quarter of the movie was filmed here. The Hamilton City Hall, located at 71 Main Street West was used to shoot both interior and exterior sequences of the Design Firm. Other pivotal scenes were filmed at 129 South MacNab Street and 800 Strathearn Avenue in Hamilton. The crew then returned to the bustling city of Toronto and finished recreating the remaining scenes inside the infamous Cinespace Studios.

So, if you’re planning to visit Canada in the upcoming days, here are a few places that you can surely add to your bucket lists, such as Calgary, Montreal, Quebec City, Whistler and Ottawa. These places have a variety of tourist attractions and a lively atmosphere, which will surely make your trip memorable.

Alright guys, now let’s briefly discuss the plot of The Shape of Water, so that you can establish a clear idea about the storyline of this film. Plus in the meantime, you can also check out Son In-Law, Old School and Zombieland which I believe you’d love to watch as well.

Plot Of The Shape Of Water | What’s It About

The story begins in the early 1960s in America, where Elisa, a young female researcher is shown working on a secret government project. At the very beginning of the film, the lonely life of the female lead becomes apparent, when she yearns to speak with distant family members after coming back from the research facility.

Later, Elisa along with one of her co-workers stumbles upon a highly-classified file. On prying further, they discover the existence of the shocking experiments that were being performed in the facility. The story takes a sharp turn when the female lead finally comes in contact with a creature inside the lab, that closely resembles an actual mermaid. Watch The Shape of Water, to unveil the true identity of this amphibious creature that later forms a special bond with Elisa.

Final Words

Ok guys, so now that you know where was The Shape of Water filmed, I hope you liked the read and found what you were looking for. Do tell us about your thoughts in the comments section below. And don’t forget to read other amazing articles on Viebly, which are equally entertaining.