The Lighthouse (2019)
Film Analysis


Director:
Robert Eggers.
Country:
US.
Year:
2019.
Language
English.
Genre:
Psychological Horror/ Fantasy.
Location shot :
Canada.
Setting:
New England in the late 19th century.
Cast:
Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe
Based on:
Inspired by folklore and maritime myths.
Production:
A24.

Trailer of The Lighthouse (2019).
Introduction.
When The Lighthouse was released in 2019, I was eager to see it, especially after the lasting impression Robert Eggers' directorial debut, The Witch (2015), had on me. Eggers’ attention to historical detail and atmospheric tension left me with high expectations for his second feature. Watching The Lighthouse in a theater in Sydney was a beautiful experience, and I’m excited to provide a closer analysis (my second film analysis on this website!) of this visually captivating and unsettling film.

The Lighthouse (2019), interesting composition, filmed from above.
The Story
At its core, The Lighthouse explores the psychological deterioration of two men, Thomas Wake (played by Willem Dafoe), an older, grizzled lighthouse keeper, and Thomas Howard (played by Robert Pattinson), his much younger assistant. Set at the end of the 19th century on a remote island off the coast of New England, the narrative revolves around their isolation and the duties of maintaining the lighthouse. As the days stretch on, the relationship between the two characters shifts from fragile civility into a profound psychological and emotional breakdown. The claustrophobic setting, coupled with the oppressive isolation, fosters an atmosphere where the line between reality and madness begins to blur. The film’s tension escalates not only through the physical and emotional exhaustion of the characters but also through the eerie, almost supernatural, elements that threaten to overtake them. The Lighthouse is as much about the men’s inner turmoil as it is about the merciless forces of nature surrounding them.

The Lighthouse (2019)
Cinematography: black-and-white and square format
One of the most striking elements of The Lighthouse is its cinematography. The film’s black-and-white aesthetic immediately sets it apart from contemporary cinema. Shot on 35mm film, the absence of color adds an intense, timeless quality to the film, emphasizing the starkness of the environment and the bleakness of the characters’ plight. By removing color from the equation, Eggers and cinematographer Jarin Blaschke direct the viewer's attention to contrasts of light and shadow, texture, and composition, all of which heighten the film’s oppressive atmosphere.​ The decision to shoot in square format (1.19:1) is equally deliberate. This confined, almost claustrophobic aspect ratio reflects the isolation and psychological entrapment of the characters. The tight frame restricts the viewer’s visual field, mirroring the characters’ inability to escape the oppressive space they inhabit.
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#1. Visual Composition Technique.
The visual compositions are stunning, often resembling still photographs where every shot is meticulously crafted. The symmetry and intentional framing remind me of the work of photographers like Vivian Maier, who famously used the square format to capture intimate, meticulously composed portraits of her subjects. As a fan of Maier's work, I see a similar sense of precision in The Lighthouse. Here, the square format not only enhances the feeling of entrapment but also acts as a platform for Eggers' attention to every visual detail. This composition style enhances the isolation and psychological tension, often placing the characters in the center of the frame, emphasizing their insignificance in the face of their surroundings. The use of tight framing often places the characters in uncomfortable positions, accentuating the sense of confinement.