‘The Lighthouse’: ‘The Witch’ Director Gives Robert Pattinson His Best Role Yet? These Critics Think So
Christian Blauvelt
The first Robert Pattinson film to make its debut since it came out that it’s all but guaranteed he will be playing the next incarnation of Batman is here: “The Lighthouse” continues the actor’s streak of working with celebrated auteurs to realize challenging visions. Much as he was in “The Lost City of Z,” Pattinson is largely unrecognizable here in Robert Eggers‘ (“The Witch“) horror film, with mustache and sailor’s cap. And the first reactions from critics and journalists at the Cannes Film Festival where “The Lighthouse” just debuted in the Directors’ Fortnight section are saying that this black-and-white frightfest, built around seafaring lore, is a spectacular achievement.
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian went so far as to say, “Robert Eggers’s gripping nightmare ‘The Lighthouse’ is the best thing [at Cannes] with sledgehammer performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, like Steptoe and Son in hell.”
Gregory Ellwood of The Playlist said, “It’s embarrassing ‘The Lighthouse’ wasn’t selected for competition. Pattinson missed out on an acting prize.”
Emma Stefansky of Thrillist also highlighted the performances: “‘The Lighthouse’ rips: it’s terrifying, hilarious, nightmarish, and Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe shamble around in flannels and longjohns the whole time, yelling stuff like ‘GET TO WORK, SAYS I!!’ ‘BARK YOU DOG!!’ don’t let anyone spoil this for you.”
Adam Woodward of Little White Lies singled out the acting as well: “Robert Eggers’ ‘The Lighthouse’ is like if Melville or Poe reimagined The Shining as an odd couple comedy where both protagonists are Jack Torrance. A lot to take in, but Pattinson and Dafoe are superb.”
Alex Billington of FirstShowing.Net singled out Pattinson for particular praise: “Holy! Monkey pump! Hell! And you thought The Witch was good, ye ain’t seen nuthin’ yet. ‘The Lighthouse’ is on a whole other level. Extraordinary!! Might just be Robert Pattinson’s best performance yet.”
And finally, IndieWire’s own Eric Kohn noted that “‘The Lighthouse’ is a better Aquaman movie than ‘Aquaman.'”
A24 has “The Lighthouse” for U.S. distribution, while Focus Features is handling international. If these early reactions build, it looks like they may have quite a hit on their hands.
Robert Eggers’s gripping nightmare The Lighthouse is the best thing in #Cannes2019 with sledgehammer performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, like Steptoe and Son in hell #Cannes72 #Cannes
— Peter Bradshaw (@PeterBradshaw1) May 19, 2019
It’s embarrassing The Lighthouse wasn’t selected for competition. Pattinson missed out on an acting prize. #Cannes2019
— Gregory Ellwood – Cannes – Playlist 🎬 (@TheGregoryE) May 19, 2019
The Witch was no fluke. Robert Eggers’ sophomore film, The Lighthouse, is a stunning blend myths and madness. Best film of #cannes2019 so far. Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe give ferociously gripping performances
— Total Film (@totalfilm) May 19, 2019
THE LIGHTHOUSE rips: it’s terrifying, hilarious, nightmarish, and Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe shamble around in flannels and longjohns the whole time, yelling stuff like “GET TO WORK, SAYS I!!” “BARK YOU DOG!!” don’t let anyone spoil this for you #Cannes2019
— Emma Stefansky (@stefabsky) May 19, 2019
The Lighthouse is a very worthy follow-up to The Witch. Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe go mad off the mainland. Immense performances, another astonishing period-dialogue-driven script and gorgeous monochrome, full-frame photography. Oppressively nightmarish #Cannes2019
— Jordan Farley (@JordanFarley) May 19, 2019
Avast me hearties! Stap me vittles if Robert Eggers’ brine-soaked chiller THE LIGHTHOUSE isn’t the most inspired piece of out n out cinema in this fest. More anon, ye scurvy dogs. #Cannes2019 #Quinzaine2019
— Jonathan Romney (@JonathanRomney) May 19, 2019
Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse is like if Melville or Poe reimagined The Shining as an odd couple comedy where both protagonists are Jack Torrance. A lot to take in, but Pattinson and Dafoe are superb. #Cannes2019
— Adam Woodward (@AWLies) May 19, 2019
Turns out THE LIGHTHOUSE is a better Aquaman movie than AQUAMAN. #Cannee2019
— erickohn (@erickohn) May 19, 2019
Holy! Monkey pump! Hell! And you thought The Witch was good, ye ain’t seen nuthin’ yet. The Lighthouse is on a whole other level. Extraordinary!! Might just be Robert Pattinson’s best performance yet. #Cannes2019
— Alex Billington @ Cannes (@firstshowing) May 19, 2019
The Lighthouse – Two men on a rock in the ocean slowly go mad. Absolutely phenomenal, visceral, intense, hilarious filmmaking. Every shot is masterful. Score is astounding. Willem Dafoe & Robert Pattinson are incredible, plumbing the depths of insanity. Perfection. #Cannes2019
— Alex Billington @ Cannes (@firstshowing) May 19, 2019
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