The Lighthouse Review:

Robert Pattinson and William Dafoe star in the most bizarre films of the year, The Lighthouse. Courtesy of A24.

Thomas Wake: "Boredom -- eviler than the devil. Makes men to villains."

If anyone, that is remotely invested with the film scene today will have heard of this film called The Lighthouse (2019). For anyone who likes to watch the bigger blockbusters or is not into the film scene, I would put a large portion of money that they would not know of this work. Reasons I sought out to find this film and to see it in theater, before it got pulled, it is a film that is an old-fashioned cinematic experience. One that most people will not have the pleasure of having since films are made much differently today. I stress this because films from back then compared to today’s standards, people will not see this because it just looks, for a lack of a better word, “old”. This film has been on my radar ever since its first showing at Cannes. Every critic that I read or watched praised this film as a “masterpiece”. In fact, my favorite critic, who had gone almost two full years without giving his top grade gave The Lighthouse the top honor. Instantly, I needed to find this film and I drove over an hour just to see it. While expectations were running in my head, I needed to block them once the opening dissolved in, and I have to say, it is one of the most bizarre, but thought-provoking pieces of art that I had the pleasure of seeing. One that I would be gladly checking out after its release to other theaters and on print. I will not say this film is a masterpiece by any stretch, it does have one flaw in my mind, but otherwise, The Lighthouse is probably, if not, one of the year’s best.

The Lighthouse is about a new assistant lighthouse keeper, Winslow (aka Robert Pattinson) who arrives to learn from a veteran lighthouse keeper, Thomas Wick (aka William Dafoe). As time progresses, these two men boarder the lines of subjectivity and supernatural, and since there is heavy intoxication involved, we as an audience do not know exactly the type of reality that these two are living in, other than that it is complete madness. It is hard describing this film without suggesting these types of elements because the film askes plenty of questions, but does not give too many answers. That is where I will also offer that The Lighthouse will be a extremely polarizing film for many. With much critical praise, and having some of the best performances all year, The Lighthouse does manage to hold up in my book, but even for myself I was begging for just one more answer to be made. Then I could have walked out of the theater an extremely satisfied individual.

William Dafoe (left) and Robert Pattinson (right) in The Lighthouse. Courtesy of A24.

Like I said, Dafoe and Pattinson are extremely exceptional in this film. Their performances are nothing but mesmerizing, and I use that term rarely because I was literally blown away by how unique and outlandish their characters are. Their chemistry and range of emotions are all over the place, one second they love each other and are laughing and farting, then the next scene they want to kill each other. I found that aspect to be fun and somewhat enjoyable to see because that is how it can be sometimes with people who are close. One second you want to kill them, the next you want to hug them and dance with them. Dafoe and Pattinson are easily the best parts of this film, besides the technical stuff which I will get too in a second. Much like Joker (2019) this year, these performances are worth seeing.

When it comes to the technical side of the film, I would say it is near flawless. The cinematography, using black and white film on a 4:3 aspect ratio, it created a sense of old times and even felt like a film that came out during the 1920s. Since the narrative takes place in the 1890s, this element from the camera definitely benefited the film. If it were shot on a camera today with a wide-angle and color, it just would not be the same. And effectively as well is the score for the film. The music is grim, dark, loud, unsettling, as if we are entering a void. It creates a sense of bold and big atmosphere, even though the whole film takes place on one island, but no one is in sight for miles and miles.

William Dafoe (left) and Robert Pattinson (right) go mad in one of the most creative films of the year, The Lighthouse. Courtesy of A24.

The writer and director here, Robert Eggers, takes us on a uneasy narrative that may not be political per say, but he does have something to say when it comes to the patriarchal structure. Especially when it comes to the positions of power and overseeing the ones below. Eggers, who made The Witch (2015) before this, offers a film about power, ties to Greek mythology, and more importantly, farts. Yes, this film contains a ton of farts and human feces. And I found that element to be one of the most human parts of it. It does not aim to be above anyone, once the film becomes a little too ambiguous (like it isn’t already), it decides to give off a fart from Dafoe’s character, and that adds a unnerving laugh because it is just that bizarre. Again, it’s just one of the weirdest, most thought-provoking films of the year.

When it came to its ending, and what it meant, I am not entirely sure what Eggers was trying to say. Whether it was trying to political or personal. I found the ending to be intriguing, mysterious, but ultimately, too ambiguously handled by Eggers. Many people are saying how either A, you can take your own interpretation to the ending or film, or B, you just don’t get it. I would like to beg there is a third option, that there is room for understanding some of the mythology Eggers was conveying, however, in the realm of the film’s universe, what does it ultimately leaves us with? It’s bizarre for sure, but it does not give enough answers to leave us with a satisfying conclusion. While I found the conclusion to be original and bold, I find it to be one that was just one or two answers away from being essentially perfect in my eyes. Themes and performances are definitely within reach, but I believe it was the conclusion that will leave either audiences satisfied or dissatisfied with this unorthodox narrative. I do like The Lighthouse for being bold and small at the same time, horrifying and nervously humorous, The Lighthouse is a film you do not want to miss because of the brilliance of filmmaking and acting that is on display. There must be an enchantment in the lighthouse, but maybe just a little too much.

Rating: A-

Run Time: 1 Hour 49 Minutes