I planned to title my review "WTF Did I Just Watch", but that had already been used. While atmospheric and technically well done, this film is unpleasant to watch. It's basically an ultra-dysfunctional mash-up of Moby Dick and The Shining. I managed to watch the entire nauseating mess because I was curious about the ending, which instead of providing some satisfaction or at least an explanation, is pretentious garbage.
The entire movie feels implausible. The lighthouse itself was OK as a setting, the mechanisms made sense (FYI, the coal-fired steam engine is strictly for the foghorn), but the cistern situation was insane. The two keepers should have died (or at least been violently ill) from the polluted water. PRO TIP: Cisterns preserve water by keeping it cool and DARK -- there is NO WAY the access hole wouldn't normally be covered with a light-tight panel -- keeping it open is SUICIDE in a place like this; things will grow in it. And yet Robert Pattinson's character wanders over and sees dead/dying seagull(s) floating in there.
I learned nothing and would like my 109 minutes back. I give this abortion two stars, as it's useless IMHO except as film-critic-bait, but with a one-star penalty for a HORRIBLE "mental aftertaste". That's ONE star total folks -- the film was just THAT pointless and disgusting.
The entire movie feels implausible. The lighthouse itself was OK as a setting, the mechanisms made sense (FYI, the coal-fired steam engine is strictly for the foghorn), but the cistern situation was insane. The two keepers should have died (or at least been violently ill) from the polluted water. PRO TIP: Cisterns preserve water by keeping it cool and DARK -- there is NO WAY the access hole wouldn't normally be covered with a light-tight panel -- keeping it open is SUICIDE in a place like this; things will grow in it. And yet Robert Pattinson's character wanders over and sees dead/dying seagull(s) floating in there.
I learned nothing and would like my 109 minutes back. I give this abortion two stars, as it's useless IMHO except as film-critic-bait, but with a one-star penalty for a HORRIBLE "mental aftertaste". That's ONE star total folks -- the film was just THAT pointless and disgusting.