The Lighthouse (2019) A psychological horror/thriller where two people are isolated, and on the brink of insanity. The black and white is fitting for this movie, and different in its own way. It does requires multiple watches, at least for me it did. : r/moviecritic Skip to main content

Get the Reddit app

Scan this QR code to download the app now
Or check it out in the app stores
Go to moviecritic
r/moviecritic

A subreddit for movie reviews and discussions


Members Online

The Lighthouse (2019) A psychological horror/thriller where two people are isolated, and on the brink of insanity. The black and white is fitting for this movie, and different in its own way. It does requires multiple watches, at least for me it did.

r/moviecritic - The Lighthouse (2019) A psychological horror/thriller where two people are isolated, and on the brink of insanity. The black and white is fitting for this movie, and different in its own way. It does requires multiple watches, at least for me it did.
Share
Sort by:
Best
Open comment sort options
u/enviropsych avatar

I can't get enough of the way Willem DaFoe speaks in this flick.

u/tuskvarner avatar

His unblinking sea curse speech is astounding.

u/Puzzleheaded-Plan450 avatar

Hark Winslow! Haaaarrrrkkkk!!!

More replies

Yer fond o me lobster ain’t ya?

What accent was it supposed to be? I couldn’t really tell

u/enviropsych avatar

It just sounds like a pirates accent which I believe is derived from the actor who played Long John Silver in Treasure Island, whoch all modern pirate accents are based on. I think it's Irish.

u/Syn7axError avatar

West Country.

More replies

Cant remember the source but I read an article about where they got the accent. Its a north eastern american seaman’s accent. They got their pronunciations from a book written long ago by a seaman from that area.

I think he tried to talk like captain Ahab from Moby Dick maybe? That’s the vibe I got.

Iirc that’s kind of the idea. Pattinson’s character makes fun of his accent at one point, indicating that the accent is a fraud and that Dafoe isn’t who he says he is.

I think he’s trying to sound like a sailor because his character is made up because he became a lighthouse keeper because he’s on the run like Robert Pattinsons character.

u/Tranquil_Ram avatar

As other people in this thread have pointed out, it's a kind of generic north Atlantic sailor's accent that Old Tom uses to fit into his role as an old salt. Young Tom goes off on him about how he "sounds like a parody" of a sailor. Since it is revealed that both men are murderers who lie about their pasts, it's likely that Old Tom just adopted the speech and stories and mannerisms of his previous employer/lighthouse keeper the way that Young Tom adopts the name and mannerisms of his old foreman, Ephraim Winslow.

More replies

Ya mustn't spill yer beans lad!

More replies
u/No_Elephant541 avatar

you’re fond of me lobster, say it.

Hark!!!!!

u/slappymcstevenson avatar

Me found a mermaid vagina.

More replies
u/Evening-Statement-57 avatar

I love how they just decided to drink until they went insane. That sounds so nice

Did it about four years ago. My id, ego and superego pretend to be me wife and kids or vice versa.

u/Evening-Statement-57 avatar

Sounds relaxing

u/Tranquil_Ram avatar

Till the lamp freaked you out

More replies
More replies

Such a creepy film, but damn it's good. This is the point where I realized that Robert Pattinson could actually act.

Me to! Willem is always great.

I agree, and it somehow made seagulls more terrifying. Also it’s about time that Robert Pattinson is becoming known for other movies now besides twilight.

The guy has definitely branched out ever since. I even liked him as Batman.

There is another movie he is in also from A24, where he gets stranded in outer space that one was decent too, I think it’s called High Life or something like that.

Check out Good Time. He's great in it.

More replies

He wasn't in Twilight. Even actors who were in those movies forget they were in them. You will never convince me he or any good actors were.

More replies

You see him in Good Time? Or Lost City of Z?

u/Tranquil_Ram avatar

You know for years I refused to see RobPat as anything other than "that prettyboy that played a vampire fairy." I only watched this movie because A24 was putting out atmospheric bangers and because Willem Dafoe is a legend. But once the horn started blowing and the Toms sat down for dinner I couldn't look away from the screen and accepted that Robert was a serious actor.

More replies
u/H8T_Auburn avatar

If you like lovecraft, this is for you.

u/H8T_Auburn avatar

Mainly the lovecraftian theme of an unknown entity with the power to cause insanity. While I agree with the other poster that lovcraft featured his monsters more prominently, the other writers that contributed to the Cthulu Mythos had their own styles. Lovecraft had many creatures that would drive men mad and destroy the. Also, the unknowable monster beyond comprehension is a lovecraftian trope.

The light itself seemed to be some kind of incomprehensible malevolence that was almost drawing in evil around it like a maelstrom. That fits right in with Lovecraft.

u/H8T_Auburn avatar
More replies
More replies

Yes I’m a fan of love craft and cosmic horror movies

I don't disagree necessarily but what would you say makes it Lovecraftian? There is hint of sirens or other worldy stuff but it's pretty vague...?

most people attribute the psychological horror of "not knowing if theres a monster or if a character is just insane" to lovecraftian. i disagree but mainly because imo for it to be lovecraftian the monster has to play a larger part

More replies
More replies
u/ToastedWatson avatar

Two fantastic acting performances

Don’t forget Sully Seagull

More replies

HAAAAAAAAARK!!!!!!!

Alright then, have it yer way, i like yer cookin’.

It grew on me throughout the film. Great cinematography and visuals. Definitely had to watch more than once to gain more perspective.

Monkey pump!

u/H8T_Auburn avatar

I took the film to mean there actually WAS something in the lighthouse that Willam dafoe was hiding. Very strong "Cthulu" vibes.

I’m still trying to figure out what the seagulls where supposed to symbolize, Dafoe mentioned that they are sacred because they are sailors reincarnated, that’s all I really got from it.

u/H8T_Auburn avatar

I think being eaten by seagulls was a symbol of man being brought low. Man knocked off of his pedestal and reduced to food for beasts.

Strong Prometheus symbolism too. Wants the fire/ light in the lighthouse, is sentenced to have his abdomen consumed by a bird.

u/H8T_Auburn avatar

Then you have the crossover with prometheus and lucifer, and lucifer and nyarlathotep. I really enjoyed the film just from a symbolism standpoint.

more reply More replies
More replies
More replies
More replies
More replies

Willam Dafoe was so convincing in this movie. Nosterafu and the green goblin, are such great roles for his personality as well. I had to turn on subtitles and get past the black and white factor, but after the first 10 mins it adds to it

That's the problem with YE!

u/IEATASSETS avatar

I liked it, it was actually my favorite film from eggers, but I feel it's just trying too hard to pose a subliminal statement to its detriment. The story just gets lost in translation due to the underlying message and makes it somewhat hard to follow for me. Maybe I'm just uncultured and a dummy but that was my take away

Edited

I heard an interview with Eggers and he would probably agree with your sentiment

EDIT: I think it was on Maron's WTF Podcast.

The interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsAOfc0AT5A

u/IEATASSETS avatar

Imma check that out, thanks! I've never seen eggers talk about his films before but I imagine he'd be fun to listen to

More replies
More replies
u/mightymilton avatar

I enjoyed the first two acts but not the third. I feel like it had so much potential that was squandered

Edit: the acting was incredible though

More replies
u/linkhandford avatar

I worked in this movie.

I got a call at midnight to come to set the next day to be in the water tank at 8:00am, the production manager is a buddy and colleague and knows I have an aquatic background but work in film. No one told me anything aside from needing someone to make some waves.

I get there and I’m given a rubber dingy to rock it back and fourth to make small ripples because the wave machine could only make huge waves.

And then it’s revealed this is a sex scene between Robert Pattinson and the mermaid… so my claim to fame was being five feet from Robert’s bare ass as I litterally rock my legs back and fourth for hours.

No way lol

u/linkhandford avatar

I worked a little bit in the production office too but that was after they found out I was available.

More replies
More replies

This movie is mentioned a lot on Reddit! and I finally watched it a few weeks back. I thought it was great, and my wife also liked it.

Before anyone watches it I think it’s good to be prepared it’s a different movie. I mean it’s not super strange or anything, just different.

The performances were truly stellar from the actors. Highly recommended!

I watched this about two months into the pandemic and I’d been inside the apartment basically the whole time. Really set the mood. How long have I been in this apartment? Two days? For years? Help me to recollect.

u/pickles55 avatar

It's a horror comedy, great movie

One of my all-time favorites. I definitely plan on watching it again.

u/Max_Cherry_ avatar

The black and white was at least partially done to allow them to do interesting things with shadows and lighting that they couldn’t do otherwise. At least I think I remember reading that somewhere.

u/MetalTrek1 avatar

Definitely strange, but still well done with two great performances.

One of my top “horror” films. In a special class of the Weird.

Oh so that's where that meme is from

I adore it! It's weird, creepy, and funny. Dafoe and Pattinson, I think, gave some of their outstanding performances of all time.

Willem Dafoe was absolutely revolting in this movie. And I can't believe Bobby Patts used, "Jism" seriously in a sentence. This movie was great.

u/Gonnatapdatass avatar

Awesome movie, bizarre in a good way. Loved the dark visuals, and Willem DaFoe's performance.

Wait this was a psychological horror/thriller? I thought it was a black comedy.

I watched it 3 times, watched some smarter people explain that shit to me and still I just laugh at Thomas saying "Fortnite", while drool moistens my shirt.

u/UpDog1966 avatar

Brink of insanity? Way past that..

I was pissed because I was expecting a thriller or horror movie (for me it wasn't) but I might watch it again for the Willem Dafoe performance

u/turbosingh23 avatar

The acting in this movie was incredible. This reminds me of a boxing match. Just two fighters going head to head, battling with their acting skills. A really cool movie

u/GuappDogg avatar

I just ran this back for the second time last weekend. Absolute banger

u/AnxiousToe281 avatar

Amazing movie. It reminded me a lot of the shining: Main character is an alcoholic who lost his job and is hired as a caretaker in a remote location. Goes slowly insane and is stuck there because of bad weather. Movie ends with a crazy dude with an axe destroying the only transport available to get them out of there. Even the scene with the mermaid reminded me a lot like the scene in room 237.

I'm sure there is even more but its been a while since i've seen both.

This is a perfect example of a movie that I enjoyed and have zero interest in watching again.

u/differentworld80 avatar

I suggested this to my old uncle and have not heard the end of it. He truly feels I owe him two hours back. The movie is fascinating but not for everyone.

This is currently my favorite movie, I could watch it almost any day

u/ItsASchpadoinkleDay avatar

I don’t know if I want to watch this again. I can acknowledge that it was a masterful film, but not sure if I can bring myself to do it again.

Great idea, beautifully shot, amazing acting but fuck me it was dull.

Watched this one on mushrooms the first time I saw it… what a trip!

u/Kitchen-Wish5994 avatar

It's been a Halloween spaple for me since it's release. MONKEY PUMP!

u/Kcrick722 avatar

It only took one watch for me…

Willem Dafoe jizzes over Robert Pattison: “peak cinema!”

Jokes aside, I love this movie and can’t get enough of the crazy shit that happens. Very quotable movie as well.

u/Mkreza538 avatar

👎🏼

u/-MDEgenerate-- avatar

That shit sucked

u/morelikebosyphilis avatar

Please work on punctuation

One of the worst movies ever.

1/10