If you saw The Witch (or, The VVitch, as the posters had it) on the big screen a few years ago, chances are you’re still recovering from the sensory ‘delights’ of Robert Eggers’ astonishing folk horror. Well buck up, because the filmmaker is back with The Lighthouse, featuring Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe, and some top-notch facial hair. After a rapturously-received premiere at Cannes, the film finally has an official trailer – and it’s a ravishing sneak peek into what looks to be another cinematic gem.
The Lighthouse stars Pattinson and Dafoe as two lighthouse keepers in the late 1800s who seemingly don’t trust each other much, and don’t have the strongest grip on reality. It looks like an intense character piece, a gripping psychological odyssey, and a horror-tinged drama all in one. Then there’s that claustrophobic 1.19:1 aspect ratio, the gorgeous 35mm black and white photography, and wave-crashing sound mix to boot – which all hints that this could be something truly special. By all accounts, Eggers has proved that The Witch was no fluke.
Sadly there’s no official UK release date yet for this one – the film is coming out via A24 in the States, and their releases often receive a delayed arrival on these shores. Of course, that wasn’t the case for Midsommar this year, so perhaps we won’t be in for too long of a wait. American audiences will see the film on 18 October – in the meantime, keep an eye out for it doing more of the festival rounds in the coming months.