After months of anticipation, the time had come. On Oct. 26, I drove to the Cinemark Theater in North Canton to watch The Lighthouse. Never before had I expected so much from a movie, and to say my expectations were through the roof would be an understatement. While it’s not the wisest to raise your expectations when it comes to movies, I can safely say The Lighthouse surpassed my wildest dreams, and in the best way possible.

A 20th century period piece starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, this is the second film from up-and-coming director Robert Eggers. Eggers is mostly known for his 2015 horror/mystery film, The Witch, which grossed $40 million at the box office. Audiences enjoyed The Witch and, when the news broke back in early 2019 that Eggers was working on a new project, the hype train began to roll and did not make any stops. 

Dafoe and Pattinson play two lighthouse keepers who struggle to keep it together mentally as they tend to the monotonous duties of the lighthouse. That’s as straightforward of a plot summary as I’m willing to give, but trust me: it would be a shame to spoil this movie.

From the beautifully haunting and eerie score to the gorgeous cinematography, not enough can be said about the production of this movie. Throughout the film, blaring sirens set the tone, reminding the audience of the desolate setting. These sirens slowly begin to gnaw at you, with repetition transforming the sound into something much more menacing to your ears. The score was masterfully composed by Mark Korven, who also did the score for The Witch. 

The Lighthouse was shot entirely in black and white; camera lenses from the early 1900’s were used, mainly to make it feel like an older movie. While some may initially consider this a turn-off, the decision to grayscale this film proved to be a great choice, contributing significantly to the overall mood. The lack of color further adds to the depressing atmosphere, and lets the audience experience the gloom that these two lighthouse keepers feel in their confinement.

Despite all these strong attributes, the best thing about this movie is the acting. Willem Dafoe gives an amazing performance, one that’s sure to give him a shot at winning a Best Actor Award at The Oscars this coming spring. I’d argue Dafoe’s performance as one of the best performances of his career, and it’s only right to give him the recognition he very much deserves. Robert Pattinson impresses too, going head-to-head with Dafoe and proving his worth as one of the best actors currently working. 

I can say with certainty that this is my favorite movie of 2019, and will probably stay at number one for the remainder of the year. This movie was everything I wanted it to be and so much more. Make it a priority to go and see The Lighthouse on the big screen, the way it’s meant to be seen.