Review of The Lighthouse (2019) by Cinemacrush — 22 Dec 2019

Eggers strikes again! For anyone that has qualms with the bizarre plot, it is helpful to note, that just like his 'The Witch' (which didn't go over too well with the more gore and jump scare oriented horror fan crowd either).

This is based on real lore, that other films have been made upon. Such as 2018s 'The Vanishing'. It's not an original off the wall concoction. What Eggers does here is merely creates his OWN explanation, that isn't so much concerned with scary your pants off as it is with making you think, about things like duality, and the behavior of the human male in duress, as we might feel while watching Jack Torrence tear through a door in the Shining.

You're getting grade A black and white cinematography, with two clear cut pro actors in a chillingly real gloom trap, trying to cut the mustard. The authenticity is top notch. Any more so and one might get the taste of sea water in one's mouth.

If you're looking for a scare with an explanation that will let ya sleep at night with the film nestled away in your mind, it might not be for you. If you want a film with story so perplexing, to match the true stories and theories that it represents, keeping you thinking thinking thinking for days, with the urge to learn more - this is for you.

Willem hardly fails and this is no exception. Pattinson is ever evolving into a more versatile actor and this is indeed more proof, as if we already couldn't tell with Claire Denis' recent sci-fi slo-burner 'High Life' and the Safdie Bros hypermaxed out in style/heartwarmer & heartbreaker 'Good Time'.

8/10 and kudos to another fine trip by Eggers.