More interestingly, the theme of sexual frustration is prominent and frequently recurring in the film, underscored by subtle sexual imagery - and the not-so-subtle phallic symbol that is the lighthouse - and, less subtly, by Winslow’s surreptitious episodes of lustful indulgence with a small mermaid carving and a set of racy dreams about the carving’s flesh-and-blood counterpart.

Winslow wants to but can never quite trust Wake, and is thus doomed to solitude, accompanied by self-doubt, yearning and, eventually, madness. The film’s major theme of isolation drives it forward.

Winslow silently suffers the toils that Wake puts him through, building up a throbbing resentment with every admonishment he receives. Wake orders Winslow around with sadistic delight, and, despite Winslow never failing to execute his orders, he constantly barks at him for falling short in his duties. Wake is a salty old man of the sea and good old-fashioned drunk with a penchant for colorful language, and Winslow serves as a youthful foil: quiet, orderly, stoic.

In fact, the dialogue, character development and plot progression are enthralling, making it easy to overlook the cast size. THELIGHTHOUSE/A24PRODUCTIONCOMPANY | Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson offer stellar performances as two mismatched lighthouse keepers in ‘The Lighthouse,’ a nightmarish and captivating drama.ĭespite the limitation of only featuring two characters, the film is far from lacking in substance. If their individual performances weren’t enough, Pattinson and Dafoe each complement the other’s character perfectly, creating exactly the tense and eerie intimacy demanded by a film with just two characters. Pattinson meticulously develops Winslow into a case study of the rugged fisherman and showcases an impactful range. Dafoe throws himself into the role of Wake, delivering his at once crass and poetic lines with such marvelous charisma that the viewer can’t help but be seduced by the grimy old man. Set in the late 19th century, “The Lighthouse” chronicles the surreal descent into madness of the ragged sea dog Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe) and his reserved, simmering assistant Ephraim Winslow (Robert Pattinson) over the course of their time as lighthouse keepers on a small island in an undisclosed location.ĭafoe’s and Pattinson’s performances are phenomenal. Meticulously crafted and fantastically executed, “The Lighthouse” is Robert Eggers’s follow-up to his film “The Witch,” which was released to critical acclaim in 2015.

Movie lighthouse keeper