The Lighthouse (Robert Eggers, October 18,2019) Movie • Page 19

That was so damn good!!!

 

My quick, half-processed thoughts:

The deliberate withholding of information was frustrating, which isn't a criticism I'd usually levy at an arthouse film, but this was almost too abstract for its own good. That said, the sound design and the haunting imagery were anxiety-inducing and left me unsettled far after the movie had ended. I'm still trying to process what I watched, but I did view it through way more of a capitalist/industrial lens than other takes I've glanced at. The pursuit of money - a man's source of pride - and to attain it at any cost necessary; sacrifices of love & lust, the man on top deciding his inferior's fate, who feels that what he has can't be shared with those beneath him; isolation and time to reflect on how you got from Point A to Point B and the guilt that comes bubbling up to the surface like violent waves against the shore; the loneliness of the grind; prevailing madness, covered in blood and oil and getting your "jewels" and your view from above, which lasts but an instant against nature.

To me, it felt like early Aronofsky mixed with Eraserhead, yet something else entirely. A great follow up to my favorite horror film of all time, and harrowingly visceral,.

 

Also I love the fact that a movie like this is playing in big theaters and the crowd - at least in my showing - seemed way into it

 

What would you say was withheld?

This might be related to my severe disinterest in the conversations about what did & didn’t “really happen,” but I personally felt like it was incredibly forward w/ everything that actually mattered. All the abstract, vague, surreal stuff felt pretty straightforward in a mood sense. I dunno. *shrug*

I also tend to find plot in general pretty boring, though, lol, so there’s that.

 

Saw this last night. Thought it was good but I was hoping I'd be more absorbed in it than I was. Guess I'll have to see it again

 

20 minutes!

 

have fun

 

So far we’re the only ones here, that would be extra fun...

 

Love when that happens. Free private theatre!

 

I spilled my beans, y’all.

 

WHYD YE SPILL YER BEANS

 

Also maybe it’s just because I’ve had it on the brain for other reasons lately, but I got some pretty strong Persona vibes in a few places. So much machinery and noise and beauty and horrible imagery and questions of identity and what we refuse to admit about ourselves and how that can influence perception in terrible ways.

I saw Dafoe in a super avant garde play a few years ago and this also brought me right back to that. Especially when they started repeating words back to each other.

Definitely really high on my list for this year. Loved how funny it was in addition to being haunting and melodic and strange.

 

interesting, I didn't pick up on the Persona vibes but I know that's Eggers' favorite Bergman so I'm sure there's some of it in there. I'll have to do a rewatch of Persona soon and then watch The Lighthouse afterward to see just how much it informed the film. glad you enjoyed it

 

Oh that’s funny, I had no idea it was his favorite. Could definitely be an unconscious influence more than intentional in that case.

 

The Persona vibes make sense. Good point

 

When you said Persona I thought you were referring to the video game, and I was very confused

 

If all goes well, I’ll be seeing this Tuesday!

 

A couple sitting near me and my girlfriend walked out of this about halfway through and it really perplexed me, what were they expecting vs what they were getting? Idk just thinking you had to know going in that it was gunna be a little out there.

 

some people just suck

 

I remember when I saw Mother!, a whole group of old people got up and walked out in the baby scene. It took them that long to leave

 

I cannot fathom walking out of a movie.

 

I've never walked out of a movie

and I've seen some real pieces of shit