With 13 reviews so far, the film is currently 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes!
The Witch breakout Robert Eggers has re-teamed with leading genre production company A24 for The Lighthouse, a fantasy horror film that Eggers wrote and directed. The film, which stars Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson and was shot on 35mm black and white stock, premiered at Cannes over the weekend, and the reviews have been stellar.
First reactions to Eggers’ hotly anticipated follow-up to The Witch rave that it’s a “gripping nightmare,” “absolutely phenomenal,” “a stunning blend of myths and madness,” and a “deranged nautical nightmare.” By all accounts, The Witch was damn sure no fluke, and nearly every critic has raved about the performances from Dafoe and Pattinson in particular.
The film is about an aging lighthouse keeper, named Old. It takes place in Nova Scotia in 1890.
Eggers himself noted that his new movie is “more dreadful than horror.”
Check out the early raves below, while we wait for a trailer!
Robert Eggers’s gripping nightmare The Lighthouse is the best thing in #Cannes2019 with sledgehammer performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, like Steptoe and Son in hell #Cannes72 #Cannes
— Peter Bradshaw (@PeterBradshaw1) May 19, 2019
The Lighthouse – Two men on a rock in the ocean slowly go mad. Absolutely phenomenal, visceral, intense, hilarious filmmaking. Every shot is masterful. Score is astounding. Willem Dafoe & Robert Pattinson are incredible, plumbing the depths of insanity. Perfection. #Cannes2019
— Alex Billington @ Cannes (@firstshowing) May 19, 2019
The Witch was no fluke. Robert Eggers’ sophomore film, The Lighthouse, is a stunning blend myths and madness. Best film of #cannes2019 so far. Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe give ferociously gripping performances
— Total Film (@totalfilm) May 19, 2019
Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse is like if Melville or Poe reimagined The Shining as an odd couple comedy where both protagonists are Jack Torrance. A lot to take in, but Pattinson and Dafoe are superb. #Cannes2019
— Adam Woodward (@AWLies) May 19, 2019
THE LIGHTHOUSE rips: it’s terrifying, hilarious, nightmarish, and Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe shamble around in flannels and longjohns the whole time, yelling stuff like “GET TO WORK, SAYS I!!” “BARK YOU DOG!!” don’t let anyone spoil this for you #Cannes2019
— Emma Stefansky (@stefabsky) May 19, 2019
Turns out THE LIGHTHOUSE is a better Aquaman movie than AQUAMAN. #Cannee2019
— erickohn (@erickohn) May 19, 2019
The Lighthouse is a very worthy follow-up to The Witch. Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe go mad off the mainland. Immense performances, another astonishing period-dialogue-driven script and gorgeous monochrome, full-frame photography. Oppressively nightmarish #Cannes2019
— Jordan Farley (@JordanFarley) May 19, 2019
Pattinson and Dafoe give career best performances in the insanely, wonderfully crafted THE LIGHTHOUSE. A madhouse amidst a wild ocean; an old Irish poem of desire & greed. My heart still racing like crazy. Soundscape, cinematography, editing, production, all ace. Wow. #Cannes2019
— Niels @ Cannes ✨ (@NielsPutman) May 19, 2019
THE LIGHTHOUSE: call me a disciple because this film is god-level. eggers unleashed a deranged nautical nightmare that takes the craziness of THE WITCH and cranks it up to 100. without a doubt the best film i’ve seen here by a mile. #cannes72
— iana murray (@ianamurray) May 19, 2019