Alien at the Movies

Writer/director Guillermo del Toro has created a fairytale for adults where a mute cleaning lady, Eliza (Sally Hawkins), working at a hidden high-security government facility, makes a special connection with a top secret asset, an amphibian man (Doug Jones). Worshipped as a god by the Amazon rain forest natives but this creature is being considered as a potential experimental test subject in the U.S./Russian space race. This is a beautifully shot 1960's period piece. It's a fantastic fantasy thriller involving a monster, a empathetic character, a person with attitude, an isolated neighbor, & a Russian infiltrator. Hawkins gives an amazing nonverbal performance. An outstanding supporting cast includes Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, & Richard Jenkins. This beauty & the beast tale is a little romance with a sly sense of humor & is rated "R" for nudity, some sexual content, violence, & language (once even signed). 

Alien gives it 3½ "misunderstood creature" stars out of 4.