Reviews

The Lighthouse follows two lighthouse keepers, Ephraim Winslow and Thomas Wake In 1890s New England. With Winslow only recently being hired for the position, and Wake having decades of experience. Both men did not view each other in the best light, with Winslow seeing Wake as a senile old man with a power complex, and Wake seeing Winslow as a young kid who did not understand the ins and outs of the job. Things only got worse when the two men became stranded on the island they were supposed to watch over due to extreme weather conditions. With such isolation, the movie dives into the psyche of Winslow and Wake and explores the animosity and emotional hunger of human beings at their breaking point. The cinematography of this film is beyond gorgeous. Although fully shot in black and white, the imagery is rich with grit and emotion. The most controversial part of this film is its pacing. This film can be very slow, which can be a big turn off for some but in my opinion, it is necessary for a film like this. This movie’s primary focus is the two main characters and their descent into madness, because of this the film needed to take its time to both flesh out the characters and show signs of their madness as the film progressed. This largely relates to the biggest draw of this film, which is the acting. Both Robert Pattinson and William Defoe played their respective roles flawlessly. Showing all the intricacies of their characters as well as their interactions with each other in the best way possible. An example of this can be seen in the highly regarded scene where Wake goes on a two-minute monologue which portrays him putting a curse on Winslow, with each word of this curse being filled with heart wrenching emotion. Although some disregard this film as an artsy attempt at a horror movie, it is much more than that. This film is a deep exploration of what it’s like being human in the worst predicaments. It is a must watch film, even just for the acting. A beautiful art piece that cannot be missed.