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The Lighthouse 2019

Movie · 109 min · English · May 19, 2019

Independent Psychological thriller Supernatural horror

Directed by Robert EggersWritten by Robert Eggers, Max Eggers

Starring Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe, Valeriia Karaman, Logan Hawkes, Kyla Nicolle

A 2019 American horror film, The Lighthouse is directed and produced by Robert Eggers, who also wrote the screenplay with his brother Max Eggers. The movie features Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson as two lighthouse keepers caught in a tumultuous situation during a fierce storm at a desolate New England location. Critics have struggled to classify its genre, resulting in varied interpretations.

The concept of The Lighthouse comes from a script inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's unfinished short story "The Light-House." Max Eggers used this as a foundation and expanded it using a nineteenth-century Welsh lighthouse accident as the core narrative. Visually, the film references photography from 1890s New England, French maritime films from the 1930s, and symbolist artistic styles. Principal filming occurred in Nova Scotia, Canada, starting in April 2018 and lasting just over a month. Shot in black-and-white with an almost square 1.19:1 aspect ratio, it emphasizes the verticality of the lighthouse and the characters’ isolation. Mark Korven composed the musical score, incorporating oceanic sounds and sea myths.

The Lighthouse debuted at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2019, followed by a theatrical release in the United States through A24 on October 18, 2019. It earned over $18 million domestically against a $11 million budget. The film received widespread critical acclaim, especially for direction, cinematography, and the performances of Dafoe and Pattinson. Among many honors, it was nominated for Best Cinematography at both the 92nd Academy Awards and the 73rd British Academy Film Awards.