The Lighthouse

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⭐ 9.0/10

(Originally written by Tim)

This movie was something else. Two men maintaining a lighthouse on an island get abandoned there when a storm breaks out, and both get a severe case of cabin fever.

The acting is great, with the camera on these two guys the entire time. The film also looks incredible, all in black and white, and filmed in a narrow aspect ratio that makes it look like a historical documentary. The dynamic between the two is incredible, one being the lighthouse keeper and the other his whipping boy for all the difficult tasks, and this clearly leads to a bunch of conflict.

Willem Dafoe in particular is amazing as a raving and demanding former sailor, and his superstition and secrets are really what make this film boil over.

There was tons of symbolic imagery, and I am pretty sure it's a retelling of a Greek myth. The final image in particular is pretty grotesque, but unforgettable, and makes the connection to Greek mythology pretty obvious. Feels like I need to watch it again knowing this now.

This was a tense but fun watch, and one of the best things I have seen this year.

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