15 Recent Performances That Were Criminally Underrated
11. Doug Jones in The Shape of Water
The Shape of Water is not an underrated film in the slightest. It raked in countless awards, even winning Best Picture at The Oscars. The phenomenal performances of Sally Hawkins and Michael Shannon were also well recognized. However, Doug Jones' incredible performance as the Amphibian Man has largely been ignored.
The effects work of his costume was highly praised, but the performance of the man underneath the latex was not. Doug Jones is notorious for portraying terrifying yet entrancing monsters in movies, especially those directed by Guillermo del Toro. His prior collaborations with del Toro include The Faun and The Pale Man in Pan's Labyrinth, The Ancient and The Master in The Strain and The Chamberlain, the Angel of Death, and Abe Sapien (a character quite similar to the Amphibian Man).
He has been captivating in all of these performances, but the Amphibian Man is likely his greatest work yet.
Physical acting is often overlooked, even though it's incredibly difficult and requires a unique skillset. Speaking on his performance as the Amphibian Man, Jones said:
"When wearing any kind of a costume and makeup that's this extensive, you become a bit of a nursing home patient. I can't see as well, I can't hear much, I can't feel much, and I got these webbed fingers on—I can't do anything for myself."
While what he does is not traditional acting, it absolutely deserves to be praised all the same.