"The Lighthouse" is the type of movie that is hard to explain in words- in a good way. There is so much to take in with the underlying symbolism, as well as with the mysterious happenings that cause one to wonder if everything you’re seeing is actually what you’re seeing. In that sense, I would say this film does an excellent job of keeping you intrigued. On the surface, "The Lighthouse" falls somewhere between a drama and thriller about two lighthouse keepers with hidden pasts who end up working together on a remote island, trying not to go mad from isolation and loneliness. However, beneath this lies a deeper story of facing who you are in your darkest moments and deciding the kind of man you want to be.

The cinematography of this movie is nothing short of phenomenal, as you can’t help but be captivated by the classic way they have shot each scene. It easily takes you in to this fantasy-like island filled with nothing but the sound of sea birds and crashing waves. However, the best aspect of this film is the truly breathtaking performances of both Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, which carry this movie to the very end. Dafoe plays a jaded old man who has seen more than his fair share of strange things during his time as a lighthouse keeper. He clearly likes being the one in charge, and gives a sense that he feels entitled to this for his time of loneliness spent on the job. Ephraim (Pattinson) is the newcomer who is basically a grunt worker following the orders of Thomas (Dafoe), mostly to avoid quarreling with his only form of human contact. He is earnest and keeps to himself, which we later find out is because he is running from a past he cannot accept. The chemistry and dynamic between the two men, shown through their bickering, physical fighting, drinking until blacking out, and sharing of secrets, is noteworthy and fascinating up to the very last scene.

That being said, I want to mention that the symbolism in this film (depending on how you interpreted it) is genius and, quite frankly, beautiful. Director Robert Eggers has stated that these characters are derived from the mythological characters Proteus (a wise old man who never wanted to share his knowledge) and Prometheus (a thief who wanted to give intelligence to human life). These similarities can be especially seen in the final images of the movie which, let’s just say will stick with you for a while. Beyond that, this seems to heavily symbolize the cycle of man trying to understand himself, and never learning or moving on from his past. A lesson that, as we can tell from this story, has plagued humankind since the beginning.

From a story-telling aspect, "The Lighthouse" provides many elements that draw you in, and it makes you think beyond your own perspective. It is one of self-reflection and tragedy, but not without a purpose. The roles are made in to once in a lifetime performances, and as beautiful as the movie as a whole is, would be nothing without Dafoe and Pattinson guiding it.