As the storms grow stronger and the pair seek refuge in drink, the power dynamic begins to shift and blur, both men switching between slurring friendship and bitter resentment there appears to be aВ violent Oedipal quality to their relationship. In aВ handful of sensuous scenes (the movieвЂ™s language is dirt and oil, booze, stench, sweat and sea-spray) the film sketches this grim rapport, with Winslow soon becoming DafoeвЂ™s grudging dogsbody.ДЄt the same time, mysterious forces are clearly at play on the island вЂ“ Winslow finds aВ mysterious, voodoo-like statue of aВ mermaid among the bristles of the pallet he sleeps on, and is attacked by aВ gull with aВ bad temper вЂ“ that threaten to deregulate this routine. Robert Eggers, directing fearlessly, paints aВ vivid scene that he will subsequently take aВ mean pleasure in trashing: that of Ephraim Winslow (Pattinson), arriving on aВ rocky island to work as second in command at aВ lighthouse to the terse and boozy Tommy Wake (Dafoe), who swiftly sets him to back-breaking work. In consciously antiquated black and white, their boat lashed by waves, staring past or into the camera in their turn, they could be the subjects of an early daguerreotype of workers. Pattinson is moustachioed and rangy DafoeвЂ™s wicked rodent features peak out of aВ heavy beard.

What counts as aВ spoiler and what is acceptable as mere description of the bluster and folderol of aВ movie high in colour? The Lighthouse presents aВ particular problem for the reviewer in that explaining its plot points (a man goes crazy while trapped in aВ remote lighthouse with aВ gruff lighthouse keeper) doesnвЂ™t ruin anything, but giving away certain visual treats or uproarious lines of dialogue could take away from the many great pleasures this film has to offer.ДЄt its outset, The Lighthouse is all stark austerity, its craggy stars (Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe) appearing to come together to form one jutting cheekbone to rule them all.

Willem dafoe crazy face