"The Lighthouse" is a brilliant cinematic technical achievement that seems to get lost in its own story. The tale of two isolated lighthouse workers on a small island off the coast of New England is a visually engaging mood piece. Shot in black & white in a narrow aspect ratio, the visuals convey a sense of time and place that is truly remarkable. The performances by the two actors are equally strong. Extensive research on the life of 19th century lighthouse keepers gives authenticity to the portrayals by the two men.

Despite the strong technical and performance aspects of the film, the film suffers from by not providing enough markers for the audience to find its way through the virtual fog of the story. While the general trajectory of the story is clear, there are a number sequences that leave the viewer questioning whether the images are reality, dreams, delusions, or just poor directing & editing choices. There are similarities to the work of Fellini in some of this, but one wonders whether such a comparison might be too generous.