The Lighthouse, a fantasy/drama/horror about two lighthouse keepers struggling to maintain their sanity while living on a remote, mysterious New England island, is a movie that noticeably builds and builds. Especially where the tension between its two characters is concerned. The Lighthouse also becomes increasingly intriguing, fantastical, and has a pervasive sense of dread as it unfolds, resulting in an ending that makes sense, but one that also leaves me with some questions.

I can’t deny that overall, writer/director Robert Eggers’s 1890s-set film is a good one. I enjoyed the cinematography, some of the dialogue and definitely the great performances by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. In terms of how I feel about Eggers’s movie in its entirety, for reasons that include the film’s genre (fantasy, especially) and the general loudness based on the sounds and noises the two men had to endure; plus the inclusion of much of the less than sanitary and unsavoury aspects of being a lighthouse keeper in the 1800s, I can’t say that I loved The Lighthouse. 

Should you find yourself quite curious, give it a chance because it’s unlike most. It also has that stage play quality, likely due to the dialogue style and single setting. Who knows, you may just find yourself far more enthused by the whole experience than I was.

I know for sure that during the movie and when it was over, I desperately wanted to believe that the job and experience of being a lighthouse keeper these days is quite different, and at the very least, far more sanitary.

Happy Film Loving,

G

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