The Lighthouse [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray] [2019]

Such a stellar original movie. The artwork for the blu ray does it justice also

This movie was unusual and interesting in all the right ways. The cinematography is great and it achieves a very palpable atmosphere. Though I can definitely say this movie is not for everyone, it is a great for those seeking something off the beaten path and enjoy intrigue. Robert Pattinson's performance was great but Willem Defoe? How he didn't walk away with more awards for his performance is beyond me.

If you're okay with artistic elements that you need to think about to really unpack, and you're willing to be slightly challenged and disturbed by some strange moments [and heavy themes], you will not regret watching The Lighthouse. It demands a second viewing. After watching the movie once and trying to understand the themes behind it, I wasn't sure what to really think. But after a second viewing, the SUPERB acting, the unique and gripping visuals, and the challenge of getting into the mindset of the filmmaker makes this a recommended movie that I would have to say lands around 3 1/2 stars out of 4. However, as a friend of mine says, I do tend to like "artsy-fartsy" films that respect your intelligence enough to fill in the gaps, so stay away from this movie if you know that you really only like straightforward or more "usual" films in terms of dramas.

This is not a horror movie in the ordinary style, by which I mean the two men watching the lighthouse are not fighting against some kind of ghost or sea monster for their survival. The film is less literal in the way it depicts the characters' rivalry, their checkered pasts, their compromised mental health, and the way all of it spirals into madness during the isolation of a freak storm. This is certainly a tense and scary film with powerhouse performances from DaFoe and Pattinson. I loved the black-and-white cinematography and the decision to film in an old-fashioned "square" aspect ratio to heighten the claustrophobia. Give it a try if you're looking for something truly unique!

This movie won’t be for everyone, but I found it to be a great throwback to 1930s horror, as well as a great dive into isolation and insanity. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson are both the best they’ve ever been. I wish there was a 4K copy of this movie, but the blu-ray looks phenomenal as well.

A truly unique film. You are not quite sure what you have just watched after the first viewing but I bet you will want to go back and rewatch almost immediately. The film supports various interpretations based on what each individual viewer brings to the film. For example, for me it was a metaphor for purgatory, a place where one must atone for one's sins before you enter eternity. William Dafoe is outstanding in this film, alternately scary and comical. Pattinson is also outstanding as the aggrieved underling.

How moody!? Black and white, William Dafoe, Robert Pattinson, AND a lighthouse? Any more mysterious and we wouldn't know what it was about!

Robert Eggers’ follow up from his 2015 masterpiece, The Witch (not the VVitch), is truly a marvelously filmed, written, and performed film. One thing I love about Eggers’ films is that the dialogue stays true to the era, making the mood and interactions feel more genuine. The old sailor talk is really one of the best things about this. Willem Dafoe is at his absolute best. Robert Pattinson is wonderful as well. The cinematography in The Lighthouse is absolutely beautiful. But despite all of that, the storyline itself felt a little hard to follow. A lot of imagery was used throughout, imagery that told and reflected certain mythological stories. And those are stories I’m not familiar with, so really it was a tad bit too much for me. Still, one of 2019’s best. Heavily overlooked.