Writer/Director Robert Eggers returns with a delicious little slice of the creepy, the absurd and the downright bent with The Lighthouse.
We’re dropped on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s where two lighthouse keepers slowly go down the rabbit hole of mystery and madness with nowhere to run.
Shot on 35mm, in full frame and in Black & White; The Lighthouse is a delightfully creepy trip down into the depths of the human psyche when isolationism takes hold and you just can’t see around the corners of your own mind.
Eggers puts together a yarn that won’t only creep you out but keep you guessing, just not know what is actually happening and what is existing in the mind of Ephraim (Robert Pattinson). As he duels with his senior Thomas (Willem Dafoe) we see both men essentially become a mirror image of the other, which is what really makes this all a master class in casting.
With some stunning cinematography and the forced perspective of the story thanks to Jarin Blaschke we get lured into the deep waters of psychosis with some ethereal imagery giving it all an out of world experience that will leave your legs wobbly like you just got out of a pitching sea vessel in the middle of nowhere.
The Lighthouse is damn near the stylish minimalist epitome of perfection and ultimate bang for the movie going buck that challenges and entertains all at the same time.
David Voigt is a Toronto based writer with a problem and a passion for the moving image and all things cinema. Having moved from production to the critical side of the aisle for well over 15 years now at outlets like Examiner.com, Criticize This, Dork Shelf (Now That Shelf), and to.Night Newspaper.
He’s been all across the continent; serving on the FIPRESCI Jury at the Festival Du Nouveau Cinema in Montreal, covering festivals out side of Toronto like Calgary Underground Film Festival, CUFF Docs, Slamdance, Fantasia, SXSW, DOC NYC, Santa Barbara Film Festival, New York Asian Film Festival and many others
However, In the uncertain world of modern film journalism, David also knew that he needed to have a hand in writing and cementing his own contributions on the global film scene.
Having eclipsed the 10 year anniversary of his own outlet, In The Seats, where he’s been striving to support film (and TV) from all walks of life and his podcast “In The Seats With…” where after 5 & ½ years and over 750 episodes he’s talked with a wide variety of filmmakers, actors, behind the scenes artisans and so much more on the art of storytelling for the screen, which is spawning the launch of a new show in the Spring of 2026. “ITS: Soundtracks” will focus on the use of soundtrack and score in film which he believes is a combination that is the cinematic equivalent of Peanut Butter and Chocolate.
All this as well as hosting and moderating a variety of big screen events around the city, covering film in all its forms is just a way of life for him.
