The Lighthouse tells the tale of two lighthouse keepers who descend into madness when their offshore lighthouse is hit by a nasty storm that leaves the two men stranded without much rations and little chance of rescue until the persistent storm ends.
Let me say right of the bat that the best things about this film are definitely the acting, character interaction, and dialogue once it gets going--which is why when one of our lighthouse keepers dies in a freak accident mid-way through, The Lighthouse begins to dim (pun intended) in it's ability to hold my attention any further. Sure, it was very chilling to watch the remaining keeper descend even further into madness isolated all alone, but I feel the remaining story could have been told more effectively in less time.
Another negative about this film is the rushed editing. For instance, in one scene you'll see the two rush up to the tower to fix the light broken by (I assume) lightning during the ragging storm, only for the film to cut away to the two men back in the living quarters having a meal about 10 seconds after we just saw them risking life and limb out in the elements trying to fix the light. Like, what? You have one of the most suspenseful things to happen in the movie totally diminished by an abrupt cutaway back to an anticlimactic scene at the dinner table? This movie already has more than its fair share of dry, boring patches throughout, then the director neuters the parts that need more screen time while dragging out parts that should have gotten less. Sheeesh.
6 stars for the acting.
Let me say right of the bat that the best things about this film are definitely the acting, character interaction, and dialogue once it gets going--which is why when one of our lighthouse keepers dies in a freak accident mid-way through, The Lighthouse begins to dim (pun intended) in it's ability to hold my attention any further. Sure, it was very chilling to watch the remaining keeper descend even further into madness isolated all alone, but I feel the remaining story could have been told more effectively in less time.
Another negative about this film is the rushed editing. For instance, in one scene you'll see the two rush up to the tower to fix the light broken by (I assume) lightning during the ragging storm, only for the film to cut away to the two men back in the living quarters having a meal about 10 seconds after we just saw them risking life and limb out in the elements trying to fix the light. Like, what? You have one of the most suspenseful things to happen in the movie totally diminished by an abrupt cutaway back to an anticlimactic scene at the dinner table? This movie already has more than its fair share of dry, boring patches throughout, then the director neuters the parts that need more screen time while dragging out parts that should have gotten less. Sheeesh.
6 stars for the acting.