Change Your Image
Kamino_
Reviews
The Lighthouse (2019)
Pattinson and Dafoe Shine in Eggers' Dark, Brooding Period Piece. Ambiguity in the Storyline Muddies the Waters but it's an Experience to Behold Regardless
Simultaneously a mind-bending psychological horror and a dark comedy, The Lighthouse is a courageous effort by Robert Eggers and his team to create a one-of-a-kind experience. Efficacious cinematography, music and sound design ensure that you are in a constant state of discomfort - though not in an unpleasant manner, I promise. The writing was done by Robert Eggers and his brother Max, who deserve to be commended for their time studying texts of a bygone era to power their characters with unique, period-appropriate speech and mannerisms. The movie stars Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, who really get the chance to flaunt their acting chops as they play complex characters. Despite its quality in acting and production, it suffers from a story that seems to lack substance - or perhaps it is packed with too much of it; it's hard to tell in this instance because it is quite ambiguous. Eggers does not present any clear resolution, instead choosing to pass the content off to the audience to come up with their own interpretation. There are interesting theories to be drawn, and it was enough for me to find it satisfying, but I also understand that it may leave much to be desired for certain viewers.
Set in the late 19th century, the film begins with the arrival of two men on a remote island, off the shores of New England, to work as lighthouse keepers for a four-week period. The oppressive Thomas Wake (played by Willem Dafoe) is a seasoned lighthouse-tender, and he declares the lighthouse's lantern room off-limits to Ephraim Winslow (played by Robert Pattinson) for some mysterious reason. This is Winslow's first time working in this profession, and he is forced to be subservient to old Wake. Winslow's increasing curiosity, on top of the strange occurrences that he experiences, sends him down a path of psychological decline. All the while, Wake continues to berate and exploit his young foreman. However, not everything turns out to be what it seems as the characters' stay on the isolated rock runs longer than expected. The bulk of the movie explores the tumultuous relationship between the two men, spanning from seething hatred to alcohol-fuelled glee (almost to the point of homoeroticism). Winslow decides to endure the mistreatment until the four-week work period is up, but as that time comes and goes, the only way Winslow can really break free of his abuse is to overpower the senior. Eventually, he musters up the power to do just that; though as soon as he makes the decision, things take an unexpected turn as Winslow is plagued by "superstition" and the horrors of the sea. You'll find the resolution to this conflict unpredictable and not absolute, but it is arguably appropriate given the themes of the film, and it's genre (being a horror, mystery, and a thriller).
The committed performances from Pattinson and Dafoe are the highlights of the film, and they provide the majority of the entertainment value, compensating for the muddy storyline. The film features just two characters (for the most part), and even though Winslow is the vehicle in which we experience their world, it is only just that we focus on both the "wickies"; for they are both equally interesting and important. The actors adopt archaic accents, grow facial hair and play unique characters in such a way that they are unrecognizable; I don't see Pattinson and Dafoe when looking at Winslow and Wake, respectively. Immersion is crucial to take audiences on an emotional ride, and the pair could not have done much better. The range of emotions expressed in the film is surprisingly vast and the two actors' commitment to their roles is clear for all to see. Pattinson paces Winslow's slow breakdown well, while Dafoe dominates as the weathered seaman. A key point to observe in the film, is that the two characters tend to be quite different from their normal selves when they've had a bit too much to drink; it's impressive how the stars play into the differences, yet still keep it realistically rooted to their serious nature when they are sober.
Each actor has a showcase scene in which they get to deliver a monologue. Dafoe, having a background in theater, expertly delivers Shakespearean dialogue in a single take without blinking for over two minutes. On the other hand, Pattinson delivers a not-so-poetic but exceedingly unhinged monologue which is engrossing and pretty comedic (but don't you dare laugh). Out of the two, Dafoe's scene stands out; a brilliant cross-over between his acting prowess, the Eggers brothers' writing, sound design and cinematography. The two men are drunk in this scene, and the power dynamic seems to balance out until Winslow takes it a step too far, insulting Wake. Set off by the offensive comment, he curses his subordinate, calling the wrath of the sea upon him. The passion and genuineness of the delivery makes it truly gripping. The language being used is so different to what we are used to that it makes the scene more intense, and I found myself rewatching the clip and attempting to recite the damnation for weeks afterward.
If the performances of the actors (somehow) don't wow you, the sound and cinematography definitely will. With cinema usually thought of as a visual art form, the use of sound in The Lighthouse plays a major factor in making it as immersive as it is. First and foremost, the soundtrack by Mark Korven is subtle, but menacing and unsettling. Conch shells are used, inspired by ancient Greek music, to create the sound of the sea. The often-heard lighthouse foghorn blare is haunting and harrowing, only escalating the sense of anxiety that the film cultivates. Moving on to the sound design, the effects created to illustrate the harsh weather were also effective in contributing to the uneasy mood - especially the wailing winds.
One of the first things the audience will notice is the use of a different aspect ratio that we are used to; here, It's 1.19:1. The cramped feeling as a result of the almost-square aspect ratio captures the close quarters between Winslow and Wake, and conveys their discomfort. It physically communicates the restrictions of living on a small island too. The aspect ratio forces the actors to be closer together in scenes when they share a shot, which heightens the tension at times because of their aggressive nature. Juxtaposing the confined nature of the island and the lodgings, Eggers and cinematographer Jarin Blaschke, expertly use wide shots and high/low angle shots to illustrate power dynamics and hierarchy. This, of course, usually involves the characters, but it is more interestingly used when focusing on the lighthouse itself (which adds valuable contextual hints). Another prominent aesthetic feature is that The Lighthouse is shot in black and white film. A monochromatic look is effective in transporting us to a different time and Blaschke explores the extremities. The blinding light of the lighthouse lantern adds to its mystical nature, and draws us in the same way it attracts Winslow's curiosity. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the heavy shadows and depth in tone add a sense of impending danger and dread. Overall, the movie is visually stunning, and the purposeful cinematography also aids us in attempting to better understand the events of the film.
The depths of solitude and supernatural activity are two major themes in the film that have already been explored to no end in cinema (rightly so; there is so much to say about them), yet Eggers adds something fresh and compelling to the conversation. Eggers decision to blur the lines is deliberate, and I think he and his team have succeeded in translating his vision onto the screen. From Lovecraftian elements to hints of an unreliable narrator, Eggers makes the deliberate decision to give us as much to chew on as possible. I, for one, did not appreciate the extent of the lack of clarity, but I respect the trust that he has in the audience. The opportunity to admire the authenticity and intensity of the acting alone makes this film worth watching. The ever-present sense of claustrophobia, tension and threat, alongside the brilliant performances by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe really kept me hooked. Regardless of how you feel about the ambiguous storyline, there is much to like, and it's worth exploring to appreciate how wonderfully crafted The Lighthouse is.