The Lighthouse (2019 film)

The Lighthouse is a 2019 American black-and-white dark fantasy horror film directed by Robert Eggers and written by him and Max Eggers. It stars Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe.

It had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2019.

Cast

 * Robert Pattinson as Ephraim Winslow
 * Willem Dafoe as Thomas Wake
 * Valeriia Karaman as Mermaid

Production
In February 2018, it was announced Willem Dafoe had been cast in the film, with Robert Eggers writing and directing from a screenplay he wrote with his brother, Max Eggers. Youree Henley, Lourenço Sant'Anna, Rodrigo Teixeira and Jay Van Hoy will serve as producers on the film, under their RT Features, New Regency and Parts & Labor banners, respectively. A24 will distribute the film in the United States, while Universal Pictures and Focus Features will handle the international distribution. That same month, Robert Pattinson joined the cast of the film.

Principal photography began on April 9, 2018. Filming took place at Leif Ericson Park in Cape Forchu, and inside a hangar at Yarmouth International Airport, in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. Editor Louise Ford revealed that the film is shot on black and white 35mm film.

Release
It had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight section on May 19, 2019. It was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize over the other films in that section.

Critical response
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 31 reviews, with an average rating of 9.03/10. The site's critics' consensus reads: "A gripping story brilliantly filmed and led by a pair of powerhouse performances, The Lighthouse further establishes Robert Eggers as a filmmaker of exceptional talent."