Scary birds, uncomfortable laughs and the bonkers 'Lighthouse'
Few experiences compare to the bizarre, hallucinatory theatrics of “The Lighthouse,” another period-horror thriller from “The Witch” writer/director Robert Eggers.
For example, Robert Pattinson has a violent feud with a seagull.
Frequently dreamlike and sometimes darkly hilarious, “The Lighthouse” is expertly crafted to make viewers feel on edge and uncomfortable. Eggers utilizes stark black-and-white cinematography and a nearly box-shaped aspect ratio to emphasize the claustrophobic dwelling that traps two late-19th century lighthouse keepers on a storm-blasted Atlantic coast island. The craft only amplifies the go-for-broke brilliance of the performances by Pattinson and Willem Dafoe.
“The Lighthouse” opens on the first day of a four-week stint on the island for Winslow (Pattinson), a former lumberjack and lightkeeper apprentice, and Thomas Wake (Dafoe), a surly veteran with a magnificent beard and a spectacular nautical vocabulary in the spirit of, say, the sea captain character on “The Simpsons.” Thomas won’t allow Winslow to take a turn managing the light, leaving Winslow to handle all the other insufferable chores on the island.
Rain and wind pounds the poor young chap so hard that his psyche begins to crack. Thomas, meanwhile, seems insane from the start. It doesn’t help to have a bellowing foghorn constantly interrupting the rare moments of quiet on the island, and the sea birds really don’t seem to like Winslow’s attitude.
Unsurprisingly, Dafoe is brilliant as the unhinged old seaman, and the script (written by Eggers alongside his brother, Max) allows for several inspired (and believably period-accurate) monologues that are to be expected from a man who believes the lighthouse offers magical powers... or something.
Much of what occurs in “The Lighthouse” will certainly be up for interpretation. Either it’s all in their heads, or there are sinister forces at work, or maybe a little bit of both. As Dafoe chews the wet scenery, Pattinson’s Winslow unravels slowly, or at least until he can’t stand to listen to his partner’s unbelievable tall tales and persistent flatulence.
Pattinson, the former “Twilight” star and future Batman, has proven his acting chops in recent years with strong performances in the likes of “The Lost City of Z,” “Good Time” and this year’s “High-Life.” Whereas much of his previous work could be categorized as quiet and understated, his Winslow eventually reaches the insane heights of Dafoe’s Level-11 performance. It’s thrilling to watch these two performers clash at full speed in the final minutes of “The Lighthouse.”
Much like the split audience reaction to “The Witch,” expect “The Lighthouse” to turn off a great number of moviegoers, especially those looking for a more grounded, plot-centric experience. The filmmaking, however, is undeniable, and the screenplay, overstuffed with glorious and often comical sea-centric vernacular, meshes well with the film’s sometimes horrific imagery.
If nothing else, Eggers is a master of crafting a unique tone from familiar literary elements. You may walk out of “The Lighthouse” wondering what the heck you just saw, but it’s indisputably something.
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Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com. He is the co-host of Old Millennials Remember Movies, available everywhere you find podcasts.