The Lighthouse Movie Review: Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe in a Gothic Tale of Madness and Isolation
The Lighthouse is a recent black-and-white movie about the feverish psychological battles and explicit mermaid-infused visions of two isolated and increasingly mad lighthouse keepers in 1890s Maine. The movie is directed by Robert Eggers, who is known for making rigorously researched period films that nevertheless have an otherworldly fairy tale quality.
The Plot of The Lighthouse
Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe play seamen who alone tend to the remote lighthouse. Dafoe is a crusty and tyrannical salty dog, Thomas Wake, and the possessive “keeper of the light,” and Pattinson is his new and progressively frustrated and unhinged assistant, Efraim Winslow. The expressionist imagery and heated atmosphere recall something from Bergman, if transplanted from Sweden to Melville’s Northeast.
The Strange, Hallucinatory World of The Lighthouse
For writer-director Robert Eggers, real and mythic collide in strange and hallucinatory ways. He makes period films that have an otherworldly fairy tale quality. His first film, the 2015 horror hit “The Witch,” wasn’t just set in 1630 but grew out of the real folktales and period-authentic nightmares of a family in puritanical New England.
Themes of Madness and Isolation
The Lighthouse is a gothic tale of even greater and frothier intensity with still worse fates befalling the local wildlife. The movie explores themes of madness and isolation, as well as the psychological battles that occur when two men are confined to a small space with each other for long periods of time.
The Performances of Pattinson and Dafoe
The performances of Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe are remarkable and expertly convey the growing tensions and madness of their characters.
The Making of The Lighthouse
The Filming Locations
The Lighthouse was filmed in the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Canada’s Atlantic coast, and on location on the tiny fishing community of Cape Forchu, nearby.
The Crew
Eggers was reunited with A24, among other production companies, and with much of his crew from The Witch, including his director of photography, Jarin Blaschke, and composer Mark Korven, who between them do as much as anyone to set the eerie mood. His co-writer is his brother, Max Eggers.
The Inspiration Behind The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse was inspired by a number of real-life accounts of lighthouse keepers from the turn of the century. Eggers cites the works of Herman Melville, H.P. Lovecraft, and Alfred Tennyson as additional influences.
The Reception of The Lighthouse
The Critical Response to The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse has been received positively by critics, who have praised Eggers’ attention to detail, the performances of Pattinson and Dafoe, and the film’s unsettling and eerie atmosphere.
The Box Office Performance of The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse was made on a budget of $4m and has currently grossed $18.5m at the worldwide box office.
The Future of Robert Eggers
Eggers’ Next Project
Robert Eggers is currently attached to direct a new take on the classic horror movie Nosferatu. The film is currently in pre-production and has not yet been given a release date.
The Expectations for Eggers’ Next Project
Given the success of The Witch and The Lighthouse, there is a lot of anticipation for Robert Eggers’ next project, and fans of his work are eager to see what he will do with Nosferatu.
Conclusion
The Lighthouse is a remarkable movie that expertly conveys themes of madness and isolation in a strange and hallucinatory world. The performances of Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe are remarkable, and the movie has been received positively by critics.
FAQs
1. What is the plot of The Lighthouse?
The Lighthouse is a gothic tale of madness and isolation that follows two lighthouse keepers in 1890s Maine.
2. Who stars in The Lighthouse?
Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe star in The Lighthouse as the two lighthouse keepers.
3. Who directed The Lighthouse?
The Lighthouse was directed by Robert Eggers.
4. What is Robert Eggers’ next project?
Robert Eggers is currently attached to direct a new take on the classic horror movie Nosferatu.
5. What is the critical reception to The Lighthouse?
The Lighthouse has been received positively by critics, who have praised Eggers’ attention to detail, the performances of Pattinson and Dafoe, and the film’s unsettling and eerie atmosphere.