Review: ‘The Lighthouse’
“The Lighthouse” is co-written and directed by Robert Eggers (The VVitch). The film stars Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe as a pair of lighthouse keepers tasked with maintaining an outpost far from land. As the isolation grows, the two slowly lose all sense of reality.
The performances by Pattinson and Dafoe are some of the best I’ve ever seen. Pattinson is transcendent as Ephraim Winslow. At several moments, I was awestruck at how good Pattinson’s accent was and how he disappeared into the role. His performance is reminiscent of Day-Lewis’s Daniel Plainview from “There Will Be Blood.”
Willem Dafoe is brilliant as Thomas Wake, Winslow’s elder boss with a flair for the dramatic. Most of his dialogue is written like seafaring poetry, which adds a sense of theatricality. Tasking himself as the sole caretaker of the light, Wake spends most of his days and nights at the top of the tower, behind a locked door.
The directing is brilliant in its subtlety. With this being Eggers’s second directorial feature, he has shown himself to be a master behind the camera and one of our generation’s best. With his directing style and commitment to detail and historical accuracy, Eggers looks to be the next Kubrick.
The classic cinematography by Jarin Blaschke creates a Gothic atmosphere similar to horror novels of the 19th century (the film’s setting) and horror films of the 30s and 40s. The period-accurate dialogue, costuming and production design are incredibly immersive even though the film is presented in black and white and has an aspect ratio of 1.19:1.
The sound design is enveloping. The sound of wind, creaking, gulls and water is pervasive and never-ending. Beyond creating an atmosphere, the sounds never relent. Because of the immersive sounds, the audience can see into Winslow’s mind.
The film editing also disorients the viewer’s perception of the movie. The editing by Louise Ford (The VVitch and Wildlife) is absolutely superb. This film could and should be used in film schools as an example of the type of editing all film students should aspire to emulate.
The score by Mark Korven is haunting and mesmerizing. Emphasized by the ominous and punctual fog horn, this is one of the most atmospheric scores I have heard in a long time.
The production design is especially brilliant. The lighthouse stands as a beacon of desire. The house is a symbol of their humanity, a place of respite and pleasure. The passage between: a gateway to the mysterious. The engine house which operates the foghorn is a literal stand-in for work and responsibility. Each of these (including the boathouse) were built for the film and are not historic locations.
This film is absolutely fantastic and a cinematic experience like no other. “The Lighthouse” is a brilliant and captivating journey and is a masterclass in directing and acting. I give “The Lighthouse” a 98%.
