The True Horror of THE LIGHTHOUSE Explained

Directed by Robert Eggers, The Ligthouse is a surreal horror film. As the wavering cry of the foghorn fills the air, the taciturn former lumberjack, Robert Pattinson's Ephraim Winslow, and the grizzled lighthouse keeper, Willem Dafoe's Thomas Wake, set foot in a secluded and perpetually grey islet off the coast of late-19th-century New England. For the following four weeks of back-breaking work and unfavourable conditions, the tight-lipped men will have no one else for company except for each other, forced to endure irritating idiosyncrasies, bottled-up resentment, and burgeoning hatred. Then, amid bad omens, a furious and unending squall maroons the pale beacon's keepers in the already inhospitable volcanic rock, paving the way for a prolonged period of feral hunger; excruciating agony; manic isolation, and horrible booze-addled visions. Now, the eerie stranglehold of insanity tightens. Is there an escape from the wall-less prison of the mind?

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[evilbob]

The reason Dafoe's character gave for not killing a sea bird is that they carry the souls of sailors lost at sea. The one seagull that tormented Pattinson's character (and he eventually killed) had one eye -- just like Dafoe's previous partner that went mad and died.

[Testosterooster]

"Alright have it your way, i like your cookin" had a hard laugh after such a tense scene lol

[taylorbolduc]

All of Dafoe's lines were unscripted. They just put Pattinson in a lighthouse with him and filmed it

[shainewhite]

Robert Pattinson nailed his performance while Willem Dafoe played one of the creepiest characters in film history. He even starts to manipulate Pattinson into thinking they have been on the island, for a week, a month, or a year.

[danielhathaway]

Saw this opening night; and, upon the films conclusion, the entire packed theater sat still and silent as statues ALL THE WAY through the end credits. Nary a soul so much as coughed, whispered, or shifted. It was a shell shocked silence. BEAUTIFUL!!!

[TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

This movie was one of the most intriguing and memorable psychological horror movies I've seen

[MarvelousPhilly]

I don't know about everyone else, but Robert Patterson is a good actor imo. People didn't like him because of Twilight, but after that, he's been doing alright as an actor.

[iHaveTheDocuments]

They went full God tier with this one. This director also made the witch, which makes him my favorite director overall now.

[Sylentmana]

I certainly noticed the parallels with the myth of Prometheus, but I also interpreted the film as a Lovecraftian horror with the Lighthouse being an eldritch entity.

[reddoorpaintedblack]

I am born and raised in Portland, Maine. This is 100% accurate if anyone lies and says they dont like lobster . We deliver a much same curse, if only in our heads.

[bigalest]

These two acted their ASSES OFF. Holy shit. I watched the movie high af. I was so intrigued yet horrified at the same time.

[aristocrat]

That cinematography was amazing. The way the camera and lighting creepily frames everything. MWAH.

[bonzibuddy]

he didn't "not lend a hand" we clearly saw him stab the man with the log hook in the flashes of his memory. He is an unrepentant murderer, it's kind of an important detail.

[james]

I don't see this film as weird. I see it as a slow decent into madness, which we are all capable of falling into. Much easier than we realise.

[jungtothehuimang]

I got to the end of this film having no fucking clue what I had just seen but I sure did enjoy every insane moment of it.

[copyrightstrike]

I personally subscribe to the theory that Wake and Winslowe are the same person (with Winslowe being the dominant personality), and that the island is a literal purgatory where Winslowe must repent for his past sins (which he fails at entirely).

[TheJeroenbrouwer]

I thought Wake was Howard. Hear me out. Winslow actually died during the painting of the lighthouse incident. Wake left him on the beach, which is the ending of the movie of seagulls picking his intestines.
Wake coped with his loneliness by pretending Winslow was still around. After that time, Winslow began drinking. Started acting more like Wake over time. Became the patriarch. He could confess his sins from his youth to himself about murdering that guy. And ofcourse Ephraim starts calling himself Thomas. Just some food for thought.

[adamkreuz]

Eggers is definitely one of my favorites now. The cinematography is also brilliant in this. I've heard other theories that the island is purgatory

[jilianjilianson]

The scene with Wake being buried alive was truly disturbing

[JuanTonSoupXP]

I was honestly waiting for them to break into making out the whole time. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie this unpredictable in a LOOONG time.