The Lighthouse is a 2019 American black-and-white dark fantasy horror film directed by Robert Eggers. The cast of the film consists of Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson.
Plot[]
In the late 19th century, Young (Robert Pattinson) serves a contract job as awickiefor four weeks on an isolated island off the coast ofNew England, under the supervision of an irritable elderly man named Old (Willem Dafoe). On the first day, Young notices a hole in his cot, finding a smallscrimshawof amermaidwithin it and stuffing it in his jacket. Young observes Old going up to the lighthouse's lantern room at night and stripping naked. Young begins experiencing visions and dreams of giant tentacles in the lighthouse, logs floating in the water and distant images of a mermaid.
Over the course of his stay, Old demands Young take the more taxing jobs—refueling the light, carrying heavykerosenecontainers, and disposing of the two men'schamber pots, all the while refusing to let him enter the lantern room. As the weeks progress, Young repeatedly encounters an aggressive one-eyedgull. Old warns Young that it is bad luck to kill a gull, as he issuperstitiousthat they are reincarnated sailors. The weeks continue, and Young masturbates to the scrimshaw and continues to see Old naked. One night at dinner, the two get to know each other and discuss Old's previous wickie, whom Old says died shortly after losing his sanity. Young reveals that he used to work in Canada as atimberman, but decided to change professions.
The day before Young is slated to leave, he notices the water pump is releasing bloody water and investigates. He checks thecisternto see a dying gull floating inside (This is Bad Luck). The one-eyed seagull flies down and attacks Young, who grabs it and beats it to death (Surely he will experience bad luck). Soon after, the winds change direction and a storm hits the island that night. The next morning, the relief ferry does not arrive and Young sees a body washed up on the shore. He approaches it and realizes that it is a mermaid, which awakens and howls at him. He runs back into the cottage, where Old informs him that theirrationswere spoiled by the storm. Young inquires about the ferry, but Old insists that weeks, in fact, have passed since it was due to arrive. They dig up a crate supposed to contain extra rations but find only more alcohol.
More days pass, the storm continues, and the two men grow closer while remaining adversarial. Young has visions of alobster trapcontaining the severed, half-blinded head of Old's previous wickie. One night, Young tells Old that his real name is Middle-aged and that he assumed the identity of Young, hisforemanwho died in an accident Middle-aged neglected to stop. Old accuses Middle-aged of "spilling his beans" and Middle-aged tries to leave on adory, but Old destroys it with an axe. Old chases Middle-aged into the cottage, but inside, Old claims that it was Middle-aged who attacked him. With no alcohol left, the two begin mixing spirits out ofturpentineandhoney, and the storm becomes so powerful that waves crash through the cottage's windows.
The next morning, Middle-aged finds Old's logbook, in which Old has written a critical report of Middle-age's performance and recommended he be sacked without pay. Old chides Middle-aged while Middle-aged accuses him of gaslighting (very bad twitter crime) and begs him to see the light in the lantern room. Old berates Middle-aged and Middle-aged attacks him. While seeing visions of the mermaid, Old as a sea monster, and the real Young, Middle-aged beats Old into submission. Middle-aged leashes Old and buries him alive while he curses Middle-aged to a "Prometheanfate." Middle-aged takes the keys and prepares to go up to the lantern room, but Old appears and strikes him with the axe. Middle-aged disarms Old and kills him before ascending the lighthouse. He approaches theFresnel lens, and it stops and opens up to him. Middle-aged gazes into the mirrored interior in ecstasy and reaches in, letting out distorted screams as the light brightens before slipping, breaking his leg and falling down the steps. A still-alive Middle-aged is finally seen lying naked on the rocks and missing an eye as several gulls peck at his innards.
Cast[]
- Willem Dafoe as Old
- Robert Pattinson as Young
Videos[]
