Willem Dafoe's theatrical roots lies with the experimental theatre company, The Wooster Group. At one point in this movie, Dafoe barks like a dog as he is paraded around like a dog in a leash.

Meanwhile Robert Pattinson is an actor who wants to stretch his acting abilities.

The Lighthouse is a stark, sparse movie about control, isolationism and psychological breakdown.

I thought this was a remake of the British movie from 2016, also called The Lighthouse and had similar themes.

Both movies are based on the Smalls Lighthouse incident of 1801 in Wales. Both have characters whose first names are Thomas.

This movie is set off the coast of New England where in the 1890s. Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe) is an experienced lighthouse keeper who has a new assistant Thomas Howard (Robert Pattinson.) He calls himself Ephraim Winslow.

Wake barks a lot, drinks too much and demeans Howard constantly. The latter has to put up with menial or difficult tasks.

Spending four weeks together in the lighthouse with bad weather and booze. Both men bicker and argue constantly. Wake gaud's Howard constantly about telling the truth. Maybe the younger man has something to hide.

The movie is well photographed in black and white, The cinematography was Oscar nominated. Both actors stretch themselves in a movie that is essentially a two hander.

However the story is too thin, it does not work as a supernatural or psychological thriller. It is essentially about two men arguing constantly.

Like the 2016 version, maybe both men are trapped in purgatory.