Robert Eggers’ The Witch was a distinctively different spin on the horror genre, focused on building a steadily increasing atmosphere of creepiness and dread in a time when most horror films rely on jump scares and hideous creatures. If that seemed like a throwback to classic horror films then his follow-up The Lighthouse can be seen as a throwback to classic cinema in general – shot in black and white featuring an old school square aspect ratio – but with a distinctively modern twist. This is one crazy film that is familiar yet completely unlike anything you’ve seen before, borrowing elements from the horror and thriller genres to create something wholly original.
Set in the 19th century, The Lighthouse centres around two lighthouse keepers: young inexperienced Ephraim Winslow (Robert Pattinson) and weathered sea dog Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe) as they embark on a 4 week job to keep a lighthouse running on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. Seems like a simple enough job? Not the way Thomas runs his ship, beating down on poor Ephraim with criticism every chance he gets whilst conducting himself as a slob; drinking himself into a stupor and farting constantly. Yes you read that right: farting. All the abuse and flatulence take their toll on Ephraim and he soon finds himself in a battle for survival with Thomas, each of them losing their grip on reality and becoming increasingly violent as secrets are revealed and they both fight for the right to tend to the mysterious “light” at the top of the lighthouse.
Like his first film, Eggers’ focus here is very much on building a distinct atmosphere. The island the pair inhabit is continuously under siege by the weather. Storms rage and are a constant presence in the film – almost a character in itself – as the sound of rain hitting the roof and thunder cracking builds as the characters become increasingly wary and irate with one another. Adding to the tension is the phenomenal score by Eggers’ frequent collaborator Mark Korven which fluctuates between soft, creeping dread and sudden, loud bursts of harsh strings and horns which catch you off guard like the bizarre and violent actions on screen. Reminiscent of the score for The Shining in parts, it goes a long way towards adding a horror dimension to the film, mirroring the character’s steady build toward madness. The choice to shoot the film in black and white, which some may dismiss as pretentious, actually works incredibly well to hone the focus on these two individuals and the bleakness of their situation and location. It also just looks fantastic, with shadows bouncing off the walls giving the scenes an almost gothic feel.
You can have all the atmosphere in the world but if you don’t have the right actors in your film then it’s all for nothing. Luckily, Eggers enlists two of the finest of their respective generations to tackle this decidedly weird script, in Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. Pattinson continues his streak of darling indie films following the juggernaut that was the Twilight franchise and this might be the strangest and most difficult role he has played to date – including a particularly handsy scene that will forever separate him from the clean cut vampire hero that shot him to fame. Whilst his accent could use a bit of work, Pattinson is outstanding and a worthy adversary to Dafoe, making the giant shift in mentality from mild mannered to frustrated to completely unhinged look believable (within the confines of this crazy environment). Speaking of Dafoe, his performance as the grizzled sea captain is awards worthy, pivoting constantly between friend and foe to Pattinson, from calculating and vindictive to wild and completely insane. It’s a fine balance between believably crazy and completely over the top and Dafoe walks it with ease, delivering one of the most iconic characters of his esteemed career.
The Lighthouse is a film you’re not going to forget in a hurry. Whilst it may attract viewers with its distinctive dialogue and visual style, behind this is a completely crazy, original story filled with equal parts disturbing and beautiful imagery and two powerhouse performances from Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. Eggers further establishes himself as a director to watch; able to create an atmosphere that moves between genres and sweeps over and envelopes the audience – like the light atop the tower not letting go until you reach its wild, brutal conclusion.
The Lighthouse stars Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe – in select cinemas now.