Chante JVR

⭐️⭐️✨

The Lighthouse is a visually striking descent into madness, offering a bizarre, surreal journey that feels more like a fever dream than a traditional film. While its technical brilliance is undeniable, the overall experience left me stranded on the metaphorical rocks.

What Works:

• Cinematography: The stark black-and-white visuals and square aspect ratio create an atmosphere so suffocating you can almost smell the salty air. It’s haunting and unforgettable.
• Performances: Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson give everything they have, delivering raw, unhinged performances that command attention, even when the narrative falters.
• Sound Design: The relentless foghorn and crashing waves are as much a character as the men themselves, enhancing the sense of isolation and despair.

What Doesn’t:

• Obscurity Overload: The film relishes in ambiguity, but at times it feels like an exercise in frustration rather than a meaningful exploration of its themes.
• Repetitive: While the descent into madness is compelling, the film gets stuck in a loop of strange imagery and cryptic dialogue that wears thin after a while.
• Excessive Symbolism: The metaphors and allegories are so dense that they threaten to collapse under their own weight, making the film feel like it’s trying too hard to be profound.

Final Thoughts:

There’s no denying the artistry of The Lighthouse, but it’s the kind of movie that feels more like homework than entertainment. It’s a bold experiment that some will hail as a masterpiece, but for me, it was more exhausting than enlightening. A film I respect more than I enjoyed.