The Lighthouse ⛈
Happy Thursday! Before we dive in, be sure to subscribe for bi-weekly movie recommendations:
Today’s movie is The Lighthouse (2019), streaming on Prime Video. This black-and-white period thriller was directed by Robert Eggers, whose film The Witch I recommended here.
Here’s what it’s about: In the late 19th century, a lighthouse keeper (Willem Dafoe) and his assistant (Robert Pattinson) slowly descend into suspicion and madness as they become isolated on a tiny New England island by a storm. [Trailer // 109 mins]
Why you should watch it: Just like his breakthrough first feature The Witch, The Lighthouse is an immersive experience. Shot with stark black-and-white cinematography and presented in a glorious 1.19:1 aspect ratio, Robert Eggers throws you headfirst into the deep end of the late 19th century with every period detail intact — it’s almost unbelievable that the lighthouse was built for the film.
The layered sound and striking visuals make it feel like the movie is wrapping around you as the pair fall further into insanity. The story, compelling from beginning to end and aided by a career-best performance by Dafoe, challenges your perception of what is real before leaving you either perplexed or jaw-dropped. Just let it take you.
🍷 Pair it with:
📺 Buy or Rent: Prime Video | iTunes | YouTube
One movie streaming on Shudder📻 The Fog
Two days ago, the 21st of April, the Elizabeth Dane carrying Captain Blake and crew, crashed into the rocks outside Spivey Point, and the fate of Antonio Bay was sealed forever. That is (more or less) the first line of John Carpenter’s The Fog, streaming on Shudder, which is why I’m recommending it as a perfect companion with The Lighthouse.
Here’s what it’s about: On the eve of its 100th anniversary, a small town and its inhabitants begin to experience strange paranormal occurrences. Soon, a dense fog rolls in to bring upon a century-old curse leaving the townsfolk (including Jamie Lee Curtis, Adrienne Barbeau, and Janet Leigh) fighting for survival. [Trailer // 89 mins]
Why you should watch it: Although John Carpenter has directed more than one of my favorite movies of all time, I always find myself coming back to The Fog. The movie opens on a campfire surrounded by a group of engrossed kids and an old maritime storyteller regaling them with the tale of a shipwreck on the shores of the town.
With the cold open, which wasn’t in the original cut of the film, Carpenter sets an eerie, indelible atmosphere for the rest of the runtime. The Fog feels like a ghost story being told around a fire. The kind where you lean in slightly, put your chin on your hands, and find yourself lost in the tale. It is also the first of two times Jamie Lee Curtis and her iconic mother Janet Leigh (Psycho) starred in a film together. Talk about scream queens.
📺 Buy or Rent: Prime Video | iTunes | YouTube
I hope you had a great week! If you watch anything good while social distancing, I’d love to hear about it. Just reply to the newsletter.
See you Monday —
Karl (@karl_delo)
I totally agree with the Alien ranking. Thanks for The 3rd place. That was one of my top 3.