Enter the great and powerful Robert Eggers, whom along with Ari Aster, Mike Flanagan, and Jordan Peele, can still make horror films effective and eerie as of today. With his debut feature “The Witch”, I just was curious what film he was going to do next.
Then the announcements came and good ol’ jolly Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe were going to star in it. Both actors have starred in phenomenal, memorable films in the past, especially with Pattinson. The reviews that came from the Cannes and Toronto film festivals were full of massive praise.
“The Lighthouse” is truly something else from Robert Eggers digging into the descent of intrusive madness between two people in an isolated area.
It’s quite messed up, too.
Robert Pattinson plays a man named Ephraim Winslow whom is sent on a boat to serve a contract occupation as a wickie for four weeks. Willem Dafoe plays an irritated, elderly man named Thomas Wake whom supervises Winslow’s job.
Winslow gladfully agrees to do many occupations like fixing lights, carrying containers, and disposing chamber pots.
When a thunderstorm hits their located area, a word comes out of Wake’s mouth saying “What?”. Back and fourth, both Ephraim and Thomas say that phrase around 15 to 20 times and start to lose the greatest sanity in their lives as soon as the thunderstorm starts to worsen.
That’s all I am gonna say from there.
Pattinson and Dafoe truly deserve this absurd honor of a film after their amazing performances they delivered this 2010’s decade that is almost close to an end.
The only gripe I have with this film is that it does go through some pacing issues during the first 20-25 minutes.
What I love about this movie is that it feels more so of a ride watching these two people go through the ups and downs of their conversation. Eggers’ writing is as always wholly original and raises in many odd heights you would expect from A24 like “Swiss Army Man”.
The truest aspect of “Lighthouse” that deserves the greatest rewards would be Jarin Blaschke’s stunning black and white cinematography. Using the classic 1.33:1 aspect ratio in every frame, it has the texture and mood of a classic Universal monster flick from the 1930’s. The Oscars better fear themselves to forbid to add in a filler period costume movie instead of this gorgeous painting.
Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe are both spectacular in this film exhibiting the agony and weird follies they progress to. They also deliver the greatest choreography of 2019 which might be even better than the death dances in “Midsommar”.
Out of the two, I feel like that Willem Dafoe perfectly captures the irritated and cranky old man Thomas Wake is. He is like the typical, crotchety grandfather you would be friends with if you were a son at the age of 25. Dafoe is coming for that third consecutive Oscar nomination, baby!
All with no disrespect of course, Robert Pattinson still continues to progress his career in greater heights as Ephraim Winslow. At one point, he really wants to marry a rare, juicy steak. From “Good Time” to “Damsel” to this weird fiasco, he is going to be the greatest Bruce Wayne/Batman since Christian Bale or even LEGO Batman. Who knows?
An argument can be made that “The Lighthouse” might be considered a comedy more so than a horror film. Mr. Eggers himself might think it is a comedy. It could fit in many genres where it can leave a question mark.
The mad scientist brain of Robert Eggers once again sparks the audience to “The Lighthouse” as a battle of isolation that will stay with their minds. Believe the hype because if anyone wants the greatest fight between Dafoe and Patterson, A24 has got it in your hands.
Grade: 9/10
