The Lighthouse is thought-provoking, in like, whatever was the filmmaker thinking? Why the nearly square screen? Oh, so all shots are close-ups. Why black and white? Oh, gothic shadows, yes very impressive. The symbolism is equally subtle: lighthouse equals fire, except the Thomas Howard character is not very Promethean, but to be fair Thomas Wake is reasonably Poseidon-like. This film tries to be intellectual, but some things, like butter on bread, are better when you don't spread it on two-inches thick.