Netflix launches The Lighthouse, with Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, a fascinating and disturbing nightmare

Willem Dafoe he played insane characters, or was driven to madness. Robert Pattinsonnot much -although after seeing Batmanall can be-, and together they shine in the monochrome of The lighthousethe movie that Robert Eggers taught then The witch (2015) and before the man of the northstill on the bill in our country.

After going through Directors ’Fortnight in Cannes in May 2019 -not the Festival, but Fortnight, which is a parallel event and many are confused by it- and then appearing on various platforms, such as Amazon and also on HBO, on Wednesday it went up to Netflixwhich will definitely give you more visibility.

That doesn’t mean popularity, because The lighthouse This is a film not suitable for all viewers, and not because of its rating of only Suitable for over 16 years.

because The lighthouse? A terror movie? A psychological thriller? A surreal nightmare? A disturbing drama, with hallucinations? It’s claustrophobic.

As difficult as it is to narrow down, or generalize, it is fascinating, though, I have clarified, more than one can steer clear of so much madness.

The images are in between beautiful and overwhelming, and the presentations, the counterpoints in between Dafoe Y Pattinsondrunk or not, supreme.

Full of symbolism and revelations close to or deeply embedded in legends, maritime or not, the film focuses on two characters who arrive at the end of the 19th century on a rock, pounded by waves and wind, to oversee the local lighthouse.

They had to stay there, just the two of them, for four weeks.

Tom Wake (Dafoe) is the experienced, the blindfolded sailor, the superior Ephraim Winslow (Pattinson). And the one who goes up the lighthouse ladder, and closes the gate so that one can’t get into the Light, like that, with big letters.

Ephraim has heavy work, from cleaning floors, painting the lighthouse to cleaning urinals and enduring Tom’s teasing. Because man is irresistible, pedantic and complicated.

But since they hardly meet, except for dinner — Tom goes to the lighthouse at midnight, with whom he seems to have a sexual relationship—, Ephraim only hopes that as the days pass, relief will come and he will be able to collect his salary.

intoxication and masturbation

Something changed when he found out Tom’s former assistant had died of madness, had hallucinations or strange visions. Well, Ephraim himself fantasizes about a mermaid, thinks about her that she is masturbating, and an annoying seagull doesn’t like her.

Even when Tom tells her that mistreating a bird is bad luck she can’t change her relationship with him.

Shot in 1.19: 1 format and in black and white by cinematographer Jarin Blaschke – both prefer to shoot almost everything in natural light The witchand that alternates black with white and color the man of the north-, the framing and monochrome give it a more gloomy, non -rustic, and threatening look, with some shots and light directly referring to German expressionism.

Or should we speak of neo-expressionism?

And doesn’t it have memories as well The sparkle, by Stanley Kubrick, with the isolation, madness and mistrust between the leading characters? Or isn’t Tom and Ephraim almost like a toxic marriage?

Has a relationship with The witch, when Salem is mentioned in passing, and many references to Melville. Until everyone is open to as many interpretations as moviegoers.

The music, and the sound, with its loud beating that can be disturbed, all add up when it comes to generating uncertainty. The lighthouse not as linear The witchand visible the man of the north unexpectedly the American filmmaker will take the course he chose afterwards The lighthouse.

But as I watched it, I imagined how cool it would be if the people at Marvel called Robert Eggers and offered him to direct one of their upcoming films.

“The lighthouse”

Very good

drama/fantasy USA/Canada 2019. Original title: “The lighthouse”. 109 ‘, SAM 16. from: Robert Eggers. may: Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe. Available in: Netflix.